# ICES 2027 fishing quota recommendations

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/ices-2027-fishing-quota-recommendations
> Updated: 2026-10-09T10:17:46.000Z. Sources: 3. Developments: 2.

The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has issued various fishing quota recommendations for 2027, reflecting divergent trends in marine stock health.

For pelagic species, ICES suggested increases for certain stocks. Blue whiting quotas were recommended to rise by 25 percent due to rising biomass, while Norwegian spring-spawning herring quotas were recommended to increase by 10 percent. However, mackerel stocks remain near a critical threshold, with a 33 percent risk of falling below critical limits by 2028.

In contrast, North Sea cod stocks face severe restrictions. Due to declining populations, scientists have recommended either a total ban on cod fishing or strict catch limits of approximately 8,500–8,574 tonnes. Both the South and Northwest sub-populations are at critical levels, with experts attributing the lack of recovery to rising ocean temperatures caused by climate change.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-09: North Sea cod quotas face potential ban or strict limits for 2027

ICES has recommended either a total ban on North Sea cod fishing or a strict limit of roughly 8,500 tonnes for 2027 to combat declining stocks and the effects of rising ocean temperatures.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/north-sea-cod-quotas-face-potential-ban-or-strict-limits-for-2027

### 2026-09-30: ICES issues 2027 fishing quota recommendations for pelagic species

ICES recommends a 25% increase in blue whiting quotas for 2027 due to improving stocks, while mackerel remains near critical limits with a recommended catch of approximately 352,938 tons.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ices-issues-2027-fishing-quota-recommendations-for-pelagic-species

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Cite as: ICES 2027 fishing quota recommendations. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/ices-2027-fishing-quota-recommendations