Press release: NE Atlantic pelagic group meets to discuss ways of improving stock management

sep 18, 2026

A meeting of pelagic fisheries representatives from EU, Faroe islands, Iceland, Norway and the UK was held on 16 September to discuss ways of improving the management of mackerel, blue whiting, and Atlanto-Scandian/Norwegian Spring Spawning herring. 

The group, which was established earlier this year, following industry participation as part of King Charles’ Oceans Sustainability Initiative, held wide-ranging talks on the current fisheries management landscape for these three species, including a discussion on scientific surveys and the importance of fishing industry data feeding into stock assessments.  It also discussed the importance of encouraging national governments to take swifter action in pursuing the implementation of sustainable management plans for stocks.

Ian Gatt, CEO of the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association, and group spokesperson, said: “The creation of this group increases collaboration among the key pelagic industry stakeholders in these fisheries in the Northeast Atlantic and provides a platform for discussing how to improve the long-term management to ensure a sustainable future for these key stocks and the fishing communities that depend on them.”

The group will meet again in October to continue discussions.

HG 333 Isafold, Danish fishing company sets science-based targets for nature as part of pioneering SBTN Ocean work

HG 333 Isafold, Danish fishing company sets science-based targets for nature as part of pioneering SBTN Ocean work

sep 15, 2026

Danish pelagic fishing vessel HG 333 Isafold has taken an important new step in its work to better understand and reduce its impacts on marine nature. As part of the Science Based Targets Network’s Ocean Pilot, HG 333 Isafold has developed science-based targets addressing structural marine habitats and endangered, threatened and protected marine wildlife. These targets have been validated by the Accountability Accelerator, offering an independent stamp of approval and ensuring the analysis is in line with the best available science.

læs mere
Years of collaboration between fishers and scientists proves its value: Danish survey finds 42 percent of mackerel biomass

Years of collaboration between fishers and scientists proves its value: Danish survey finds 42 percent of mackerel biomass

aug 27, 2026

A long-standing collaboration between DTU Aqua and the Danish Pelagic Producers Organisation (DPPO) on collecting data on the mackerel stock in the North Sea has developed into an important contribution to the ICES stock assessment. In this year’s survey, around 42 percent of the total recorded biomass and as much as 63 percent of the young mackerel were found in the area of the North Sea surveyed by the DPPO member vessel S205 Ceton as part of the International Ecosystem Summer Survey in the Nordic Seas (IESSNS).

læs mere
Mange års samarbejde mellem fiskere og forskere viser sin værdi: Dansk togt finder 42 procent af makrelbiomassen

Mange års samarbejde mellem fiskere og forskere viser sin værdi: Dansk togt finder 42 procent af makrelbiomassen

aug 27, 2026

Et mangeårigt samarbejde mellem DTU Aqua og Danmarks Pelagiske Producentorganisation (DPPO) om indsamling af data på makrelbestanden i Nordsøen har udviklet sig til et væsentligt bidrag til den internationale bestandsvurdering. I årets togt blev omkring 42 procent af den samlede registrerede biomasse og hele 63 procent af de unge makreller fundet i det område af Nordsøen, som blev undersøgt med DPPO medlemsfartøj Ceton.

læs mere