UK canned mackerel market shifts towards Chilean jack mackerel

Retailers’ move raises questions over consumer transparency, nutrition, food miles and the sustainability of UK-caught Atlantic mackerel

UK supermarket shelves are seeing a growing shift away from traditional Atlantic mackerel towards Chilean jack mackerel, as retailers respond to sustainability concerns and the continuing dispute over North-East Atlantic mackerel quota shares.

The change means consumers buying canned mackerel in UK supermarkets may increasingly find that the product contains a different species from the fish they expect when they see ‘mackerel’ on the label.

The Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association (SPFA) has raised concerns about the implications of the move, arguing that consumers should be given greater clarity about the species they are purchasing and the differences between the two fisheries.

Hannah Fennell, CEO designate of the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association (SPFA), said:

“We are very concerned that the British public could be misled into believing they are purchasing Atlantic mackerel when they are actually buying Chilean jack mackerel.

“Despite the name, Chilean jack mackerel is not a true mackerel in the taxonomic sense- it belongs to the Carangidae family, whereas Atlantic mackerel belongs to the Scombridae (true mackerel) family.

“Consumers should be aware that Atlantic mackerel and Chilean jack mackerel are different species and are not nutritionally equivalent. Atlantic mackerel contains more than twice as much omega-3, and is higher in other essential nutrients such as selenium.

“The nutrient-dense nature of Atlantic mackerel is one of the key reasons consumers prefer it over other fish species.

“We would also challenge the suggestion that Chilean jack mackerel is simply a more sustainable alternative. Scottish-caught Atlantic mackerel comes from an extremely efficient, low-impact fishery, with no seabed contact and almost no bycatch. Its carbon footprint is also exceptionally low, with a carbon footprint of around 0.45kg CO₂e per kg of fish landed.

“Replacing locally caught Atlantic mackerel with a different species caught in the South Pacific raises obvious questions around food miles. Analysis shows that Chilean jack mackerel emits 169% more CO₂e per kg of fish than Atlantic mackerel.

“There are undoubtedly challenges around the international management of the Northeast Atlantic mackerel stock, but these should not be confused with the sustainability of the UK mackerel fleet, which has consistently supported science-based management and lower fishing pressure. The UK has remained steadfast in its commitment to reducing overall fishing pressure and has encouraged other Coastal States to follow suite. Through no fault of our own, we have been caught up in this mackerel quota share dispute between national Governments, and as such, we feel we deserve the support of UK retailers to recognise this.

“If retailers move away from Northeast Atlantic mackerel, they are unfairly punishing the UK industry while instead sourcing a different, less omega-3-rich species from the other side of the world with a significantly higher carbon footprint to the UK market.

“Ultimately, consumers deserve transparency. Jack mackerel is not Atlantic mackerel: it is a different fish, with a different taste, nutritional profile and environmental footprint, and consumers should be able to clearly understand what they are buying.”

Quota dispute at the heart of the issue

The shift in sourcing comes against the backdrop of the long-running dispute between countries fishing the North-East Atlantic mackerel stock over the allocation of quota.

The stock is shared by several coastal states, including the UK, EU countries, Norway, Iceland and the Faroe Islands. Disagreement over quota shares has resulted in combined fishing opportunities exceeding scientific advice in recent years, creating significant challenges for the management of one of Europe’s most important pelagic fisheries.

For the UK fleet, however, the SPFA argues that the wider international quota dispute should not be confused with the environmental performance of Scottish-caught Atlantic mackerel.

The association maintains that the Scottish pelagic fleet operates a highly efficient fishery, using methods that avoid seabed contact and result in very low levels of bycatch.

Nutrition and sustainability

Atlantic mackerel is widely recognised as an oily fish and an important source of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, as well as nutrients including vitamin B12, vitamin D and selenium.

The SPFA argues that these nutritional characteristics, combined with the low-impact nature of the Scottish pelagic fishery, should be taken into account when retailers consider alternative sources.

The association also highlights the potential carbon implications of replacing locally caught North-East Atlantic mackerel with fish sourced from the South Pacific.

It says analysis indicates that Chilean jack mackerel has a carbon footprint 169% higher per kilogram of fish than Atlantic mackerel.

For UK seafood businesses and retailers, the issue therefore extends beyond the question of species substitution. It also raises wider questions around provenance, supply chains, carbon emissions and how sustainability claims are communicated to consumers.

A question of transparency

With canned seafood an important part of the UK retail market, the move towards alternative mackerel species could increasingly put the spotlight on labelling and consumer understanding.

The SPFA’s position is that consumers should be able to distinguish clearly between Atlantic mackerel and Chilean jack mackerel and understand the differences in species, nutritional profile, origin and environmental footprint.

For Scotland’s pelagic fishing industry, the concern is that replacing UK-caught Atlantic mackerel with imported alternatives could undermine demand for a locally landed product because of a quota dispute that it argues is ultimately beyond the control of the UK fleet.

The debate highlights a wider challenge for the seafood sector: how retailers can respond to concerns over international fisheries management while continuing to support fisheries that demonstrate strong environmental performance and provide a locally landed source of nutritious seafood.

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