Weekly Seafood Industry Roundup

Editor in Chief Tom Seaman brings you a roundup of the main stories from the previous week.

ICES Calls for Significant Cuts in Mackerel Landings

The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has made a startling recommendation for a 70% reduction in landings of northeast Atlantic mackerel for 2026. This news was the most-read story of last week on Undercurrent News.

Impact on Japanese Market

As the world’s largest consumer of Norwegian mackerel, Japan is grappling with the implications of ICES’s advice. The substantial cut has left buyers struggling with already high prices and diminishing supply from their primary source. A Tokyo-based importer expressed disbelief, saying, “The market had expected perhaps a 20–30% cut. But 70% is on another scale. In terms of market size, it is almost equivalent to a ban, and the entire Japanese market could collapse.”

Changes in Canned Mackerel Sourcing

In response to the ICES recommendation, UK canned food firm Princes Group has announced a strategic pivot. The company will halt mackerel purchases from the Northeast Atlantic and instead source Marine Stewardship Council-certified Chilean jack mackerel. These new canned products are expected to hit Tesco and J. Sainsbury stores in October 2025, followed by additional retailers in the UK and the Netherlands in 2026.

Concerns from the Scottish Mackerel Sector

The Scottish Pelagic Processors’ Association (SPPA) has raised alarms over the potential economic ramifications of the proposed cut. “The mackerel processing industry in Scotland employs around 2,500 people, mainly in Peterhead, Fraserburgh, and Lerwick. Jobs would be put in jeopardy if such a draconian cut were implemented,” stated SPPA Chair Robert Duthie.

Global Seafood Events Reflect Industry Challenges

Last week, Undercurrent reported live from two significant events: the Responsible Seafood Summit (RSS) in Cartagena, Colombia, and an annual general meeting in Ottawa, Canada. At the RSS, Rabobank’s Gorjan Nikolik shared forecasts regarding global shrimp and farmed groundfish production, while US tariffs were a point of contention. According to Travis Larkin, president and owner of Seafood Exchange, the full impact of tariffs imposed by former President Trump has yet to be realized, with expectations that it will peak during Lent in 2026.

Canadian Seafood Under Pressure

At the Fisheries Council of Canada’s (FCC) annual general meeting, discussions surrounding the 25% Chinese tariff on Canadian seafood were prevalent. “Dock prices for geoducks have plummeted by as much as 35% since the tariffs were introduced,” lamented Grant Dovey, executive director of the Underwater Harvesters Association in British Columbia.

Opportunities Amid Challenges

Despite the challenges posed by tariffs and global trade dynamics, a former Canadian diplomat suggested that rising negativity towards US trade deals might present a silver lining for Canadian seafood exporters. Ian Burney, who served as Canada’s ambassador to Japan, advised industry leaders, “Don’t underestimate the current negativity that exists in many of these markets towards the US brand.”

Most-Read Stories of Last Week

For direct access to last week’s most-read stories, click the headlines below.

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