International mackerel prices have reached new highs repeatedly, and Canadian fishermen are calling for the resumption of commercial fishing by 2026.

Published Feb 10, 2026

Tridge summary

Core tip: Amid a continued tightening of the global supply of king mackerel and frequent updates to record high prices, fishing policies on the east coast of Canada have once again been brought to the forefront of public opinion. Entering 2026, the Food, Fish and Allied Workers' Union of Canada (FFAW–Unifor) openly called on the federal government to reopen commercial fishing for Atlantic king mackerel in the Newfoundland and Labrador region, arguing that the current fishing ban policy is significantly out of step with market realities and observations at sea.

Original content

International prices remain high, and the "scarcity premium" for mackerel continues to expand. Over the past year, the supply and demand landscape in the international mackerel market has shown a clear tightening. As one of the core global suppliers, Norway implemented a significant reduction in mackerel fishing quotas in 2026, with the total amount dropping to approximately 85,500 tons, nearly halving compared to 2025 and far below the 2024 level. The rapid contraction in supply is quickly reflected in prices: at the beginning of 2026, the export price of frozen whole mackerel from Norway continued to run at historic highs, nearly doubling year-on-year when calculated in US dollars. In Europe and various Asian markets, the overall price center for mid-to-upper-level fish has moved upward, with mackerel being one of the most directly affected species. For Canadian coastal fishermen who have long relied on mackerel income, this round of price increases is seen as a "rare market ...

Source: Foodmate