Local mackerel stocks doing better than UK amid decline
STOCKS of mackerel appear to be holding up well locally amid new warnings of over fishing and decline in some parts of the British Isles.
The UK Marine Conservation Society recently added mackerel to its amber list, which means that improvements are needed to make stocks more sustainable. Mackerel had previously been green rated – the highest level available – since 2011.
The society reported that commercial fishing of mackerel last year exceeded the limit set by scientific advice by 42% and in some waters stocks have been in decline since the mid-2010s.
But the picture seems to be healthier in Guernsey.
Surf & Turf owner Jason Hamon was surprised to hear of the concerns in other parts of the British Isles.
‘This year I’ve seen more mackerel than I’ve seen in previous years,’ he said.
‘I’m not talking about vast quantities, but we had a good load delivered earlier this week.’
He said that delivery had encouraged him to expect a good season.
He suspected that sea temperature and the presence of more dolphins in local waters were having an impact on numbers.
But he also said fishermen were being careful about how they caught the fish, focusing on quality rather than quantity.
‘Last year we started increasing the price to encourage the fishermen to look after their fish and to bring in smaller catches,’ he said.
Fishing enthusiast Richard Cowley said there had always been good and bad years for mackerel as well as shorter or longer seasons.
‘Like any fish it depends on the amount of over fishing, often outside local waters, especially the bait fish lower down the food chain, and slight variations in water temperature,’ he said.
‘Mackerel, bass, pollack, lobster, ormer, conger, crayfish, spider crab... all vary over the years.’
Availability also depended on consumer demand and which fish were being targeted commercially.
Commercial fishing led to the amber listing in the UK, but those caught by hand line in the south west of England remain green-rated.
‘This is a low-impact way of fishing and catches are very strictly controlled. There are also protections in place for juvenile mackerel to make sure they can reproduce before they are caught,’ said the society.
