Atlantic horse mackerel

The status of horse mackerel stocks varies. The stock in the western waters of the Northeast Atlantic (from the North Sea to Portugal) is at the lower limit of what is considered sustainable, while the stock off the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula (Portugal and northwestern Spain) is in good condition, with high biomass and low fishing pressure.

The impact varies by fishing method. In fisheries using purse seines and demersal otter trawls, bycatch of vulnerable (ETP) species is limited, although dolphins are occasionally caught. Less than 5% of the catch is discarded and the fishery has little impact on the seabed; however, the risk of lost fishing gear is higher with demersal otter trawls. Fisheries using handlines and pole-lines have virtually no bycatch or discards and have little impact on the ecosystem or seabed. Handline and pole-line fishing is preferred, followed by purse seines; pelagic trawls score least favourably due to the higher risk of lost fishing gear.

Management differs between stocks. The Iberian stock is well monitored and managed according to scientific advice, while management of the western stock is hampered by incomplete compliance with catch advice, uncertainties in the stock assessment and partially effective enforcement within the EU. Despite these challenges, monitoring, transparency and stakeholder involvement are generally well organised in both areas.

Horse mackerel lost its MSC certification in 2024.

It is unclear how the stock of horse mackerel in the Mediterranean Sea is doing. There is insufficient data to assess whether current fishing pressure is sustainable, but it is estimated that this is not the case.

Horse mackerel is mainly caught as bycatch in this fishery when sardines and anchovies are caught with purse seines. Bycatch of vulnerable (ETP) species is limited and less than 5% of the catch is discarded, although additional mortality may occur when fish are released from the net. The fishery affects the food web through the catch of small pelagic fish, but does not cause damage to the seabed. CO₂ emissions and the risk of lost fishing gear are low.

The stock is only partially monitored and there is no species-specific management plan. General measures for pelagic fisheries are in place, but it is unclear whether these are sufficient to manage horse mackerel sustainably. Enforcement is only partially effective, partly because many countries are involved in this fishery.

The stock in the North Sea and eastern English Channel is in very poor condition. Biomass has been well below the desired level for more than ten years and fishing pressure is too high, despite zero-catch advice and, since 2025, only a limited bycatch quota.

In fisheries using demersal otter trawls, bycatch of vulnerable (ETP) species is limited because the nets do not need to come into contact with the seabed, although dolphins and other marine mammals are occasionally caught. Less than 5% of the catch is discarded, but the fishery also catches overfished and unmanaged species. The fishery disrupts the food web by removing important prey species, but does not affect the seabed. CO₂ emissions are low and lost fishing gear poses a moderate risk.

The stock is only partially monitored and there is no specific management plan. Management is of limited effectiveness; enforcement within the EU is inadequate and the stock has been overfished for many years. In addition, there are concerns about working conditions and human rights violations in parts of this fishery.