The allocation arrangement contained within the coastal states’ agreement has also triggered concern in Brussels and among EU member states. The deal assigns 80 percent of the available quota to the coastal states themselves, leaving only 20 percent for the European Union, Greenland and Russia.

Prior to the United Kingdom’s departure from the EU, the Union’s share of the stock had been close to 23 percent. Spanish officials argue that the revised distribution effectively breaks with the historic allocation principle that previously governed the fishery.

 
Highly Migratory Stock Complicates Management

Mackerel is a highly migratory species whose distribution spans the waters of multiple countries across the Northeast Atlantic. As a result, effective management depends on coordinated agreements between the European Union and the relevant coastal states.

These negotiations have long been complex, but they have become increasingly contentious in recent years as several coastal states have introduced unilateral increases to their national quotas.

The situation has complicated attempts to establish a unified TAC for the stock and has raised repeated concerns within the EU about long-term sustainability and equitable access.

Within the European Union itself, the overall quota agreed by coastal states is normally divided among member states according to the principle of relative stability, which allocates shares based on historical fishing activity.

 
Spain Moves Ahead With National Allocation

Despite the lack of an international agreement for 2026, Spain has proceeded with the internal allocation of its national mackerel quota to the fleet.

The Spanish Ministry confirmed that Spain’s fleet will have access to a total of 9,475 tonnes of mackerel for the year. This figure includes 5,907 tonnes allocated through the EU Council decision, supplemented by quota flexibility mechanisms and exchanges with other EU member states.

Mackerel remains a key species for Spain’s pelagic fleet, with around 95 percent of the catch typically taken during a short seasonal fishery concentrated between March and April.

The Spanish government emphasised that the outcome of the ongoing negotiations with coastal states will ultimately determine the stability of the fishery and the long-term balance of quota distribution across the region.

For now, Madrid and Dublin appear determined to present a unified position within the European Union as negotiations over the management of the stock continue.