In a stance against overfishing and to safeguard the long-term health and sustainability of our oceans, Waitrose has become the first UK supermarket to stop the sale of mackerel in all its stores.
The suspended sale was initially announced in February, but came into effect at the end of last month (April 29, 2026), and includes fresh, chilled and frozen mackerel, while tinned mackerel will continue until the current stock has all sold.
With smoked mackerel a popular source of omega-3 in Britain, Waitrose has launched a new range of alternatives—including smoked herring, trout and seabass—while frozen sardines will step in as a certified sustainable replacement for frozen mackerel.
Jake Pickering, Head of Agriculture, Aquaculture & Fisheries at Waitrose, said: “By suspending sourcing of mackerel at Waitrose, we are reinforcing our ethical and sustainable business commitments, acting to tackle overfishing and protect the long-term health of our oceans.”
Why has Waitrose stopped selling mackerel?
A once plentiful fish, the north-east Atlantic mackerel has continuously been overfished in countries like the UK and Norway for years—with some reporting a 77% decline in stocks over the last decade, and others saying it is at “breaking point”.
In September 2025, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea said that mackerel catches needed to be cut by 70% to help rebuild to a sustainable level, while WWF asked all UK retailers to stop sourcing mackerel with immediate effect in November 2025.
Unfortunately, the UK, along with Norway, the Faroe Islands, and Iceland, chose only to reduce its mackerel catches by just 48% in December. So until numbers improve, Waitrose’s mackerel suspension continues, using long-term suppliers for herring, seabass, sardines and trout instead.
“We believe sustainable food production must balance climate action, nature protection and responsible fish sourcing, which is fundamental to protecting our oceans,” said Marija Rompani, Director of Ethics & Sustainability at the John Lewis Partnership.
