Atlantic Northeast Mackerel Fishing 2026: What Changes for Deep-Sea Fleets

Key data

Shipowners and fishing companies with vessels operating in the Atlantic Northeast on the MAC/2CX14 mackerel stock must immediately review the new conditions established by the General Secretariat for Fisheries. The Resolution published on April 14, 2026 modifies the original resolution of February 10, 2026 and may alter the rules of the game for the entire affected fleet.

This modification is framed within the management of stock MAC/2CX14 by the NEAFC (Northeast Atlantic Fisheries Commission), the international body that regulates fishing in these waters. Any change in its provisions has a direct effect on the daily operations of vessels registered in the corresponding registers.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution modifies the fisheries management regulations for mackerel approved in February 2026. The aspects that may be altered are as follows:

The regulation specifically affects vessels registered in the registers of deep-sea, distant-water and longline fleets over and under 100 gross tonnage (GRT) that operate within the geographic limits of NEAFC.

This resolution partially replaces the Resolution of February 10, 2026 from the same General Secretariat for Fisheries. Shipowners who already adapted their operations to the February regulations must verify which specific conditions have changed with this April modification.

Economic and operational impact

Regulatory changes in fisheries stock management have direct consequences on the profitability of fishing campaigns. Depending on the specific scope of the modification, impacts may include:

• Quota reduction: Fewer authorized tonnes mean less revenue per campaign and possible need to redirect activity towards other fishing grounds or species.
• Changes in access to fishing grounds: Geographic or temporal restrictions may force modifications to routes, increase fuel costs or reduce effective fishing days.
• New declaration obligations: Additional notification requirements generate administrative burden and may require investment in communication systems or management software.
• Penalty risk: Non-compliance with the new provisions may result in administrative fisheries penalties, with the economic and reputational cost that this entails.

Shipowners must quantify the impact on their current campaign plans and assess whether it is necessary to adjust supply contracts, marketing agreements or financial forecasts for 2026.

Who does it affect?

This resolution directly affects:

• Shipowners with vessels registered in the deep-sea fleet register operating in the Atlantic Northeast
• Shipowners with vessels registered in the distant-water fleet register operating in the Atlantic Northeast
• Shipowners and fishing companies with longline vessels over 100 gross tonnage (GRT)
• Shipowners and fishing companies with longline vessels under 100 gross tonnage (GRT)
• Trading and processing companies that depend on the supply of mackerel from these fleets
• Managers and operations directors of fishing companies with activity in the NEAFC zone
• Legal advisors and consultants specialized in fisheries regulations advising these companies

Practical example

A Galician fishing company with two deep-sea vessels registered in the corresponding register and that had been operating on the MAC/2CX14 stock in accordance with the February 2026 resolution should act as follows:

1. Locate in the text of the new resolution (BOE-A-2026-8263) which articles or annexes of the February resolution have been modified.
2. Compare the catch quotas previously assigned with the new ones, if they have changed, to recalculate the maximum authorized volume for its two vessels during the current campaign.
3. Verify whether the conditions of access to the fishing grounds where it normally operates have changed, especially regarding geographic areas or authorized periods.
4. Review whether new declaration obligations have been introduced that require modifying internal procedures for recording and notifying catches.
5. Inform the captain of each vessel of the specific operational changes before the next departure to sea, to avoid infractions that may result in administrative penalties.

This process must be completed urgently, given that the resolution was published on April 14, 2026 and its entry into force is not specified, which may mean immediate application.

What should companies do now?

1. Download and read the full text of Resolution BOE-A-2026-8263 published on April 14, 2026, identifying exactly which articles of the February 2026 resolution have been modified.
2. Compare the previous and new conditions in the four key aspects: catch quotas, access to fishing grounds, declaration obligations and temporal restrictions.
3. Verify your own vessel register to confirm which are registered as deep-sea, distant-water or longline vessels (over or under 100 GRT) and therefore fall within the scope of this resolution.
4. Communicate the operational changes to the affected captains and crews before the next departure to sea, with clear instructions on the new fishing conditions.
5. Update internal procedures for catch declaration if the resolution introduces new obligations in this regard.
6. Consult a specialist advisor in fisheries regulations if there are doubts about the interpretation of the changes or their impact on current contracts and commercial agreements.
7. Monitor possible additional resolutions from the General Secretariat for Fisheries, given that this is already the second modification in less than three months on the same MAC/2CX14 stock.