ICES issues 2027 fishing quota recommendations for pelagic species

The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has issued new fishing quota recommendations for several pelagic species for 2027, noting varying trends in stock health.

Blue whiting quotas are recommended to increase by 25 percent, reaching a maximum of 1,064,191 tons. This increase is attributed to rising biomass, upward adjustments in stock assessments, and a strong 2024 age class. However, researchers noted that actual fishing pressure has consistently exceeded scientific advice since 2018, posing a risk to long-term sustainability.

Mackerel stocks remain near a critical threshold. While the 2026 spawning biomass is estimated at 3.2 million tons—just above the critical limit (Blim)—ICES recommends a catch limit of 352,938 tons for 2027. Despite improvements in recruitment, there remains a 33 percent risk that the stock could fall below the critical limit in 2028.

For Norwegian spring-spawning herring, ICES recommends a catch limit of 588,004 tons for 2027, representing a 10 percent increase due to strong age classes from 2021 and 2022 entering the spawning stock.