At The Organic Butchery, we believe that buying responsibly doesn't stop at the farm—it extends to our fish too.

That's why we'd like to let our customers know that, for the time being, our fresh and smoked mackerel will no longer be available.

We know this will be disappointing news for many of you. Mackerel has become one of our most popular fish products, valued for its rich flavour, versatility and impressive nutritional profile. However, sustainability has always been at the heart of our sourcing decisions, and unfortunately, the current outlook for North East Atlantic mackerel means we can no longer offer it with confidence.

Why Is Mackerel No Longer Sustainable?

In recent years, mackerel has been subject to significant overfishing.

Scientific organisations regularly assess fish populations and recommend how many fish can be caught each year while allowing stocks to remain healthy for the future. Unfortunately, the total catches being taken by several fishing nations have consistently exceeded these scientific recommendations.

When too many fish are removed from the sea year after year, breeding populations begin to decline. Left unchecked, this can threaten the long-term health of the species and the wider marine ecosystem that depends upon it.

What Does 'Not Sustainable' Actually Mean?

When we say a fish is no longer sustainable to source, it means current fishing practices are not considered to be maintaining healthy fish populations for future generations.

For us, sustainability isn't simply about whether fish are available to buy today—it's about ensuring they will still be thriving many years from now.

Rather than continuing to stock a species under increasing pressure, we believe the responsible decision is to step back until stocks are managed more sustainably.

Can Mackerel Recover?

The encouraging news is yes.

Fish populations are remarkably resilient when given the opportunity. If fishing quotas are reduced and catches are brought back in line with scientific advice, mackerel stocks have every chance of recovering over time.

Many marine scientists remain optimistic that, with responsible management and international cooperation, the species can return to healthier levels.

Looking Ahead

We understand this may be frustrating, particularly if our fresh or smoked mackerel has become a regular part of your weekly order, and we'd like to sincerely apologise for any inconvenience.

While this isn't the news we'd hoped to share, it's a decision that reflects our commitment to responsible sourcing and protecting the future of our seas.

The good news is that we're working hard behind the scenes to continue developing and expanding our fish range, sourcing exceptional products that meet the same high standards you expect from The Organic Butchery.

We're excited to share more with you soon, so please stay tuned.

Thank you, as always, for supporting food that's produced with care—for the animals, the environment and future generations.

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