Waitrose has become the first UK supermarket to ban a fish item from stores, suspending all mackerel sourcing from May due to sustainability and ocean health concerns. The retailer will stop selling fresh, chilled, and frozen mackerel by 29 April, with tinned lines phased out once existing stock is sold.
Why Waitrose is Banning Mackerel
The decision follows rising concerns about mackerel supply, particularly from the northeast Atlantic. The International Council for the Exploration of the Seas recommended a 70% cut to quotas, prompting Waitrose to act. Jake Pickering, the retailer’s head of agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries, 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 and this crucial fish.”
Alternative Products on Offer
From April, Waitrose will launch Hot Smoked Herring, Hot Smoked Peppered Herring, and Hot Smoked Sweetcure Seabass, with sustainably certified frozen sardines arriving in May. Dr Joanne Lunn, head of health and nutrition at Waitrose, explained: “These products offer a powerful nutritional profile and health benefits that mirror closely those of mackerel. They are natural sources of omega-3 which helps to maintain normal functioning of the heart, brain and vision.”
Commitment to Sustainability
Marija Rompani, director of ethics and sustainability at the John Lewis Partnership, stated: “Responsible fishing is not a standalone issue for us – it sits within our wider ethics and sustainability commitments, including our net zero ambitions, zero deforestation goals, biodiversity protection and our work to set science-based targets for nature. We believe sustainable food production must balance climate action and nature protection, and responsible fish sourcing is fundamental to protecting our oceans.”
Waitrose, which has stores in Birmingham and Solihull, will continue to work closely with suppliers and industry partners to support the recovery and responsible management of fish stocks. The retailer looks forward to bringing mackerel back once it meets their high sourcing standards.
