Mackerel

Our Jack Mackerel is harvested off the coast of Chile by purse-seines which help to minimize bycatch as much as possible. What is incredible about this fishery is that it once was overfished and exploited: in the early 2000s, population levels became dangerously low. This was bad for ocean and ecosystem health, but also for the coastal communities that depended on the fishery for income. Because Jack Mackerel are migratory fish that swim across boundaries, solving this issue required international cooperation. 10 countries eventually landed on an agreement to limit fishing for 8 years by drastically reducing the catch, and removing trawlers altogether. Due to this cooperation and perseverance, Jack Mackerel stocks recovered to healthy levels in 2019.  

Jack Mackerel is often used as fishmeal: food for farmed fish. We’re proud to help drive demand for this fish for human consumption instead, which lowers our environmental impact. It’s why we often say: “Eat the Bait!”  

We work with Good Fish Foundation, of Veenendaal, the Netherlands, to ensure Jack Mackerel remain a truly renewable resource. 

As one of the few food companies that works in direct partnership with fish conservation and science organizations, our goal is to find solutions that protect, rather than deplete, our home planet. Good Fish evaluates the sustainability of fisheries in Europe and works with fishermen, fish farmers, processors and retailers to help seafood buyers make environmentally sound decisions about what to eat. The group also publishes a sustainable seafood guide for consumers and advises chefs.