Marine Life

Welfare of Mackerel in Industrial Pelagic Fishing

Mackerel are caught in massive quantities by industrial fishing vessels, and their welfare during capture and killing rarely receives consideration.

Key Facts

Atlantic mackerel is one of the most heavily fished species in Europe
Purse seine nets capture hundreds of tonnes at a time
Fish may remain alive in nets for hours before processing
Mackerel have well-developed pain systems comparable to other vertebrates
Populations fluctuate widely making sustainable quotas difficult to set

Welfare Considerations

Mackerel caught in purse seine nets experience the welfare horrors of wild capture at scale. Crushing pressure from millions of crowded fish causes injury. Suffocation as fish are pumped from nets to processing takes minutes to hours. No stunning is used in bulk processing. Their pain reception and stress hormones demonstrate that these are not simple reflexive deaths but potentially involving significant suffering.

What You Can Do

Choose MSC-certified mackerel from fisheries with responsible practices
Support research into humane killing methods for pelagic fish
Advocate for animal welfare considerations in fisheries management
Reduce fish consumption overall to lower demand on wild capture fisheries