Dutch supermarkets halt Atlantic mackerel sales amid overfishing concerns

Albert Heijn, Lidl, and Jumbo, the Netherlands’ largest supermarket chains, are halting sales of Atlantic mackerel due to overfishing concerns, NOS reports.

Current stock will still be sold, but Lidl plans to stop next month, Jumbo likely around the end of the year, while Albert Heijn has not announced a date.

Since April, the online consumer guide Viswijzer has advised against buying Atlantic mackerel, labeling it with a red warning for unsustainable fishing. The species has not carried the MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) sustainability label since 2019.

Earlier this week, the MSC issued an urgent appeal to governments, fisheries organizations, retailers, and consumers to take recent scientific research seriously. The study recommends cutting mackerel catches by 70 percent from 2026 to prevent the species from potentially becoming extinct.