North Sea Horse Mackerel Fisheries Management Plan

Executive Summary

The North Sea horse mackerel Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) is one of 43 FMPs set out in the Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS). It has been developed by the Scottish Government and Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) with input from industry, scientists, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies (SNCBs).

This FMP sets out the policies and actions for the North Sea horse mackerel stocks to be maintained at or restored to sustainable levels, ensuring that they can play a key role in providing socio-economic benefits to the UK, whilst also setting out a number of actions to improve management where this is needed.

This FMP covers two separate horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) stocks:

• horse mackerel in UK waters of ICES Division 4a, which forms part of the Western horse mackerel stock,
• horse mackerel in UK waters of ICES Divisions 4b–c and 7d, which form part of the Southern and Central North Sea (SCNS) and Eastern Channel horse mackerel stock.

These stocks reflect two genetically distinct populations, which are known to mix in the Channel and in the central North Sea. However, the extent of this genetic mixing is uncertain. This FMP applies to management of horse mackerel in UK waters and has been developed in line with the fisheries objectives of the Fisheries Act 2020 (the ‘2020 Act’) and as required by the JFS.

Western horse mackerel is caught as part of a directed pelagic fishery and is also featured as part of the Celtic Sea and Western Channel (CSWC) FMP and the two FMPs should therefore be read in conjunction.

The SCNS and Eastern Channel horse mackerel is caught as part of a bycatch fishery in the Southern and Central North Sea and Eastern Channel. The target fishery for horse mackerel in these areas has been closed since 2025 due to the depleted conditions of the stock and is currently only landed as bycatch.

Horse mackerel is of relatively low economic importance to the UK fishing sector compared with other pelagic species. Despite its limited economic importance, the continued presence of horse mackerel in UK waters and its role within the wider marine ecosystem highlight the importance of maintaining effective and adaptive management measures.

Both the Western horse mackerel and SCNS and Eastern Channel horse mackerel stocks are jointly managed, shared with the EU, and overall fishing opportunities are determined through international negotiation.

This FMP therefore describes a vision with policies and actions which set out how management can continue to support an MSY approach for the North Sea horse mackerel fishery, and highlights areas that could lead to refinements to management approaches in the future. Areas for action include those which support the wider delivery of policies within the JFS and which contribute to the delivery of the objectives contained within the 2020 Act.