NSEC, NSEC - Seafood
The pelagic fisheries of the North Atlantic have never faced a moment like this. Atlantic mackerel remains one of the region’s most valuable and widely traded species, sustaining coastal communities and supplying global markets. Yet the scientific message is clear: fishing pressure is too high, and the stock is under strain.
Advisers have recommended significant reductions to rebuild biomass and restore precautionary levels. Political decisions, however, have set quotas far above those recommendations. The gap between science and policy has become one of the defining challenges of the pelagic sector.
History offers a stark warning. In the 1960s and 1970s, excessive fishing drove major North Atlantic herring stocks to collapse. Fisheries closed, processing plants shut down, and coastal communities faced economic hardship that lasted for decades. Recovery required years of strict management and restraint — a price the industry cannot afford to ignore.
Mackerel is not yet in that position, but the trajectory is concerning. When fishing pressure exceeds scientific advice, biomass declines and resilience weakens. In a time of environmental change and shifting migration patterns, this reduced buffer heightens risk. Mackerel migrates across national borders, and sustainable management depends on cooperation between coastal states. When agreements falter, and unilateral quotas prevail, total catches drift further from what science considers sustainable.
The stakes are not only biological — they are economic. Markets, retailers, and investors demand credible, science-based management. Short-term gains may bring revenue, but declining stock health carries volatility, reputational damage, and the threat of abrupt regulatory intervention.
At NASF, the pelagic session brings together scientists, processors, and fishermen, alongside all relevant organisations, to confront this reality. The challenge lies in governance and shared responsibility, and in securing the long-term future of a resource that belongs to all.
Be part of this pivotal discussion at a moment when it matters more than ever!
Reserve your seat today! External link.
Full programme for Pelagic Tuesday at NASF 2026
13:00-13:05: Opening remarks from the Chair
Chair: Torben Foss
Company: African Aquaculture Company
13:05-13:15: The Stock situation
Speaker: Are Salthaug
Company: Institute of Marine Research
13:15-13:30: The EU-fishermen's priorities
Speaker: Dominic Rihan
Company: European Union
13:30-13:45: The Norwegian pelagic fishermen's perspective.
Speaker: Audun Maråk
Company: Fiskebåt
13:45-14:00: Fisheries Iceland
Speaker: Heidrun Marteinsdottir
Topic: Pelagic fisheries seen from Iceland
14:00-14:10: Don't forget The Faroe Islands
Speaker: Oli Samro
Company: Fishfacts
14:10-14:25: The relevance of IFFO as a bridge builder between fishers and industry
Speaker: Petter Johannesen
Company: IFFO
14:25-14:35: Protecting Global Forage Fisheries
Speaker: Katy Hladki
Company: PEW
14:35-14:45: The global pelagic market & supply situation – It is not all about the North Atlantic..
Speaker: Lars Erik Flatøy
Company: Kontali
14:45-15:00: Coffee and Networking
15:00-15:10: The geopolitical environment
Speaker: Øystein Hage
Company: Fiskeriblandet & IntraFish
15:10-15:50: The Pelagic duel - Audience questions and facilitated panel discussions.
Moderator: Torben Foss, African Aquaculture Company
Speaker: Neil Ramsden, Editor, EMEA and Asia - Undercurrent News
Topic: What did we learn?
15:50-16:00: Global supply and demand for certified small pelagics; challenges and opportunities
Speaker: Erin Priddle
Company: MSC
Global supply and demand for certified small pelagics: Challenges and opportunities
This session offers a practical perspective on how past experiences and market needs continue to influence future technology. It shows how changing market requirements and evolving product portfolios have led to the adaptation of processing technologies over time, followed by a presentation of current innovations and new technical solutions.
Chair: Live Spurkland, Pelagia
16:00-16:15: Technology Meets Market Demands
This session offers a practical perspective on how past experiences and market needs continue to influence future technology. It shows how changing market requirements and evolving product portfolios have led to the adaptation of processing technologies over time, followed by a presentation of current innovations and new technical solutions.
Speaker: Kjell Arthur Lind-Olsen
Company: BAADER
16:15-16:30: Pelagic Disruption: Implications for the Supply Chain
Aoife Martin
Independent Chair of NAPA
16:30-16:45: Improved value of pelagic catches
Speaker: TBA
Company: MMC
16:45-17:00: Beyond Efficiency: fitting your Factory of the Future
Speaker: Dag Roar Arntsen
Company: Optimar