Angling Trust News - Mackerel stocks update

[Steve S]

 

October 2026

 

 

CLUB & FISHERIES SUPPORT   Meet the Angling Trust officers helping clubs and fisheries thrive     From club development and funding advice to tackling invasive species and supporting environmental projects, the Angling Trust’s Club & Fishery Support Officers provide practical help to angling organisations across England. Working across four regions, they help volunteer-run clubs navigate everything from governance and recruitment to grants, biosecurity, training and fisheries management. They also provide a vital link with the Environment Agency and other Angling Trust services. In our latest Ask the Expert feature, find out how this dedicated team is helping clubs become stronger, more sustainable and better equipped to meet the challenges facing modern angling. Discover more here

 

 

PREDATION   WATCH: Linch Hill otter fencing project     Angling Trust Fishery Management Officer Jake Davoile discusses the importance of effective fence management once an installation is complete. The video highlights how protecting a fishery requires a long-term commitment, with regular monitoring and maintenance playing a vital role in keeping fish stocks safe. Environment Agency funding through rod licence sales is available to help with predation issues, more information can be found here.

 

 

FUNDRAISING   Broadlands Gathering raises over £3,000     Thank you to everyone who took part in our recent Broadlands Gathering auction raising just over £3,000. Our 10 lucky winners are now looking forward to fishing on the Test and we’ll share photos and videos after the event. Another huge thank you to Broadlands Estates for generously donating the day and supporting our work.   Coming soon ... win £2,000 Daiwa tackle   Our Annual Christmas Raffle will launch on Monday 2nd November with 20 fantastic prizes up for grabs - including £2,000 of Daiwa tackle of your choice, £575 YETI bundle and £458 Westlake bundle from Go Outdoors. Tickets will still cost just £2 – look out for the launch email and social media posts in coming weeks.

 

 

TRADE PARTNERS   Investment will make fishing easier to book     swimbooker, the technology behind the Angling Trust’s Event Marketplace, has secured a six-figure investment from Stuart Hennell, co-founder and former CEO of Watchfinder. The investment will fund swimbooker’s first national TV campaign and accelerate development of its online booking platform, which connects more than 140,000 anglers with over 300 fishing venues. Through the Angling Trust’s Event Marketplace, swimbooker provides the booking infrastructure helping clubs, fisheries and qualified coaches promote fishing lessons and sessions, making it easier for people to discover, book and enjoy fishing.  Read the full story here.

 

 

SEA FISHING     Irish Sea fish stocks need real recovery     The Angling Trust is calling for stronger action to rebuild cod, whiting and herring stocks in the Irish Sea. Responding to new government Fisheries Management Plans, we say the proposals risk managing decline rather than delivering genuine recovery. We want healthy, resilient fish populations, less wasteful discarding, better protection for vulnerable species and proper recognition of the impacts of climate change. Recreational sea anglers and charter skippers also need a stronger voice in how these fisheries are managed. The consultation is open until 21 October 2026.  Find out more and have your say.   Mackerel far from recovered despite advice     New scientific advice could allow more than twice as much mackerel to be caught in 2027, but anglers shouldn’t mistake that for a recovered stock. ICES says the spawning stock is only around 4% above its safety limit and remains well below the level considered healthy. The increase in advice is largely due to a stronger 2024 year class, which is based on a single survey and still needs to be confirmed. Meanwhile, countries fishing the shared North East Atlantic stock have repeatedly set quotas far above scientific advice. The Angling Trust will be pressing governments for sustainable catches and a fair international sharing agreement. We also want anglers’ experiences of this year’s poor mackerel fishing to be heard. Read the full story.

 

 

SAFETY ADVICE   Make sure your next catch isn't deadly...     With power lines carrying voltages up to 132,000 volts, our trade partner Northern Powergrid is urging anglers to tackle safety before you set off: Always ‘Look Up It’s Live! to check where overhead power lines are located. Plan fishing activities in advance to be aware of overhead power lines. Carry fishing rods horizontally to reduce the risk of making contact with overhead power lines. Remember: you don’t need to make contact with a power line to be in danger. Electricity can jump to an object or person – so stay well clear! If you are a club or fishery carrying out maintenance work, risk assess every situation, on every occasion. Inform anyone working near power lines of the dangers and the action they should take in an emergency. Always carry a mobile phone and save the free 105 phone number in your contacts. Request a free Look Up It's Live! safety pack Anglers can request a free safety pack which contains a ‘Look Up It’s Live!’ safety advice leaflet, tackle box sticker and air freshener with lifesaving emergency advice on what to do if you come into contact with power lines. Simply fill in the form here and Northern Powergrid will send a pack to you. You can also download a safety leaflet here. Read about the Angling Trust's partnership with Northern Powergrid here.

 

 

FISHING IN WALES   WATCH: Lure fishing on Bala Lake     Ceri Thomas, Fishing in Wales' Marketing Manager, visits the largest natural lake in Wales armed with a spinning rod looking to catch a range of predatory fish that are said to live in this vast sheet of water. At only £5 a day it is terrific value!

 

 

ANGLERS AGAINST POLLUTION   Get your Weird Fish supporter T-shirt     To celebrate their sponsorship of our Anglers Against Pollution campaign alongside Angling Direct, Weird Fish have launched an exclusive range of T-shirts to raise funds and awareness of the campaign. Four shirts are available online and through Weird Fish retail stores throughout the country, and Weird Fish have confirmed they will donate £5 to the campaign for every T-shirt sold. And the best part … Angling Trust members will receive a 20% discount every time they shop with Weird Fish! Just login to your dashboard to access the special code.

 

 

COMPETITIONS   New team to lead England Disabled squad     The Angling Trust has announced a new management partnership for the England Disabled Coarse Angling team, with current manager Paul Etherington joined by highly successful England U20 manager Jason Kirk. England have finished fifth at the last four World Championships, narrowly missing out on medals. Kirk has led the U20 team to two golds and three silvers in recent years and will bring his international experience to the squad, alongside coach Billy Kirk. The team is now preparing for the 2027 World Championships in Italy and is seeking sponsors to help fund its campaign. Read the full story here.

 

 

MEMBER SAVINGS   The Member Benefits section on our website offers you even more great savings! Organised by angling preference, it is easy to navigate and provides a clear picture of how you can save money with our trade partners. Click on the images and links below - and discover how much you can save!

 

 

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION   More efficient. More friendly. More savings.   All members and subscribers should have received communications from us regarding our new membership system. The final touches are underway – please look out for an activation email in your inbox in coming days announcing when it goes live and what action you need to take to access the new dashboard.  Not only will it make our system more efficient and user friendly – members will be able to access a host of exciting new discounts from companies such as Berghaus, Sealskinz and Highlander Outdoor as well as High Street brands for your everyday purchases including John Lewis and M&S.

 

 

FUNDRAISING   More chances to win in the Anglers Lottery!   Sign up to play the Anglers Lottery by Tuesday, 20th October and you'll be entered into October's monthly draw. You will then also be automatically included in the Fab Friday Draws - an extra 4 weekly draws per month! In addition to the £25,000 total possible monthly draw prize, players have the chance to win 8 prizes every week!  1 x £250, 2 x £100 and 5 x £50. £10 a month = a chance to win big + make a real impact for angling. (T&Cs apply. 18+. Please play responsibly. For support, visit BeGambleAware.org)