Waitrose has become the first UK supermarket to suspend the sourcing of north-east Atlantic mackerel, citing concerns over overfishing and the long-term sustainability of the stock.

The retailer will halt sourcing of fresh, chilled and frozen mackerel by 29 April 2026, with tinned lines to follow once existing stock has sold through.

The decision follows scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), which in September 2025 recommended a 70 per cent reduction in catches to help rebuild the population to sustainable levels.

In December, coastal states agreed to cut catches by 48 per cent. This represents a step forward, but falls short of the ICES guidance.

From May 2026, north-east Atlantic mackerel will no longer meet the requirements set out by the Sustainable Seafood Coalition’s codes of conduct, prompting Waitrose’s decision. All of the retailer’s mackerel is currently sourced from Scottish waters.

Jake Pickering, head of agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries at Waitrose, said the move reinforces the supermarket’s ethical and sustainable sourcing commitments. “Our customers trust us to source responsibly, and we are closely monitoring the fishery. We look forward to bringing mackerel back to our shelves once it meets our high sourcing standards,” he said.

The suspension has been welcomed by environmental groups. The Marine Conservation Society downgraded mackerel in its Good Fish Guide last year, warning stocks were at breaking point due to overfishing.

Meanwhile, the WWF has cautioned that north-east Atlantic mackerel catches have exceeded recommended levels by an average of 39 per cent since 2010, raising concerns about potential stock collapse.

Waitrose said it will direct customers towards alternative species including herring, sardines and seabass.

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From April, it will introduce a new smoked fish range featuring MSC-certified Scottish hot smoked herring and peppered herring, alongside what it describes as a supermarket-first hot smoked sweetcure seabass.

Frozen sardines, certified by the Marine Stewardship Council, will launch in May as a replacement for frozen mackerel.

The retailer has also confirmed plans to become the first UK supermarket to offer 100 per cent MSC-certified tinned sardines across its entire range, with the blue eco-label rolling out across all sardine tins from February.

Marija Rompani, director of ethics and sustainability at the John Lewis Partnership, said responsible fishing forms part of the group’s broader environmental commitments, including net zero and biodiversity targets.

“Sustainable food production must balance climate action and nature protection, and responsible fish sourcing is fundamental to protecting our oceans,” she said.

A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the UK is working with other nations to reduce pressure on mackerel stocks while protecting fishing jobs, adding that safeguarding the long-term sustainability of the stock remains a priority.

Waitrose said it will maintain relationships with its mackerel suppliers and continue to support UK coastal communities, but there is currently no fixed timeline for reintroducing the species to shelves.