Supermarkets Switch Mackerel
UK Supermarkets Replace Depleted North-East Atlantic Mackerel With Jack Fish Amid Overfishing Concerns
Anonymous
Key Points
1
UK labelling rules changed in December 2025 to allow Trachurus species to be marketed as “jack mackerel,” although they still cannot be sold as Atlantic mackerel. The change came weeks after Princes launched its product under the jack-mackerel name.
2
The Marine Stewardship Council suspended all North-East Atlantic mackerel fisheries from its certification programme in March 2019, citing overfishing, declining stocks and the absence of an international quota agreement; this loss of certification has made the fish less acceptable to major retailers.
3
Some consumers have reported marked sensory differences in the substitute products. Seafood reviewer Marcus Ansell described Lidl’s jack mackerel as smelling “rather metallic” and resembling “cheap rubbish tuna,” while other reports cited larger bones and less oily flesh.
4
The supply disruption is prompting substitutes beyond Chilean jack mackerel: products in some European markets have been replaced with herring, sardines, seabass and North Pacific Atka mackerel.
5
A December 2025 agreement by the UK, Norway, the Faroe Islands and Iceland set a 2026 mackerel catch of 299,010 metric tonnes—48% below the previous year—but still above scientific advice, while the European Union was excluded from the deal.
British supermarkets are quietly swapping real mackerel for a cheaper fish called jack mackerel, and shoppers may not notice until they open the tin. GB News reports that Princes, which supplies Tesco and Sainsbury's, has switched its branded range to Chilean jack mackerel due to depleted North Atlantic stocks and overfishing concerns. The change raises alarm because the two fish are different species — jack mackerel has roughly half the omega-3 and about 100 fewer calories per 100 grams.
Lidl is also transitioning its supplies, and Waitrose is phasing out true mackerel as existing canned stock sells through. The Sun notes that the shift follows a dramatic three-quarter collapse in North-East Atlantic mackerel stocks over the past decade, along with the loss of sustainability certification for the fishery in 2019. Some consumers report the substitute tastes metallic and resembles cheap tuna, with larger bones and less oily flesh.
Why North Atlantic Mackerel Disappeared
North-East Atlantic mackerel stocks have collapsed. LADBible reports that catches have exceeded scientific advice for years, and the Marine Stewardship Council suspended all North-East Atlantic mackerel fisheries from its certification programme in March 2019, citing overfishing and declining stocks. Without that certification, major retailers refuse to stock the fish. The international quota dispute made matters worse — the European Union was excluded from a December 2025 agreement that set the 2026 catch at 299,010 metric tonnes, 48% below the previous year but still above what scientists recommend.
Jack Mackerel Is a Completely Different Fish
True mackerel and jack mackerel are not the same, despite their similar names. Yahoo Finance explains that jack mackerel is an imported species, mostly from Chile, that lacks the nutritional punch of Atlantic mackerel. Per 100 grams, jack mackerel delivers roughly half the omega-3 fatty acids and about 100 fewer calories. Taste and texture also differ markedly — some consumers report a metallic smell and larger, sharper bones that are harder to eat around.
New UK Labeling Rules Allow the Swap
UK labeling rules changed in December 2025 to permit Trachurus species to be sold as 'jack mackerel,' though they cannot be labeled as Atlantic mackerel. GB News reports that the timing is suspicious — the rule change came just weeks after Princes launched its jack mackerel product under that new name. Shoppers may assume they are buying equivalent fish at the same price, unaware they are getting a nutritionally weaker substitute with a different taste and texture. The labeling change allows retailers to make the switch with minimal warning.
Other Substitutes Emerging Across Europe
The mackerel shortage is prompting a wider product reshuffling in European markets. Beyond Chilean jack mackerel, retailers are introducing herring, sardines, seabass, and North Pacific Atka mackerel in place of true mackerel. Each substitute has different nutritional profiles and taste profiles, but consumers are often unaware of these swaps. The Sun notes that supermarket chains like Tesco, Sainsbury's, and Lidl are making these changes with limited transparency about the differences in nutrition and sourcing.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativeNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
12
Articles
16
Reach
28
Topics
A
AnonymousAuthor
