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In the previous section of our dossier, we demonstrated the equation that enables us to estimate the annual catch of 104 tonnes by recreational fishing on the Atlantic coast.
A consolidated estimate compared with official studies
Before concluding, I should mention a few other figures. The 2023 study conducted by FranceAgriMer and DGAMPA based on a panel of anglers using a mobile application to declare their catches, concludes to 1.6 million mackerel retained by the recreational fishery, all coasts combined ( FranceAgriMer, September 2023 ). With an average weight of 0.25 kg, this would represent 400 tons . If we divide these 400 t into two main fa�ades (Atlantic vs. Mediterranean), we obtain around 200 t/year for the Atlantic . We've exceeded my estimate. But this study probably gives an overestimated figure, since it extrapolates from 3.825 million sea fishermen (excluding foot fishermen), a figure that is debatable in the light of other sources such as GIFAP (May 2024, 700,000 sea fishermen), IFREMER (November 2013, 1.319 million sea fishermen). It is highly likely that a mix of sea and freshwater fishing has taken place. This count, which is three times higher than other studies, leads me to divide the mackerel catch by 3, which would give us 67 tons . Our estimate becomes more realistic, with a high trend.
The figures speak for themselves: recreational fishing has nothing to do with the decline of mackerel
Let's put the 104 tons of mackerel harvested by the recreational fishermen at 2025 they represent :
- 0,65 % of the 16,000 tonnes fished by professionals in France (Atlantic) ,
- 0,0138 % of the 755,000 tonnes fished by professionals in Northeast Atlantic (EU, UK, Norway, Iceland, Faroe Islands). In other words, on a European scale, it's infinitesimal !
- 0,0035 % a biomass estimated at 3 million tonnes, or thousandths of a percent!
On the Atlantic coast, leisure fishing would thus represent 0.65% of the French national professional quota of 16,000 tonnes, according to the hypotheses adopted, not counting catches discarded because they exceed the quota! In fact, trawlers are unable to choose their catches strictly, and some trawlers unintentionally catch mackerel in excess, which are then discarded. These fish are often thrown back dead, especially when they are crushed in the huge pockets of factory ships.
The order of magnitude of less than 1% of recreational fishing is ultra-minority. The main pressure on the stock is exerted on an industrial and international scale, particularly in the North Sea and Northeast Atlantic, where cumulative catches by certain states have exceeded scientific recommendations in recent years.
As a result, the two well-known French factory ships would have over 9,000 tonnes of quota by 2024, capturing 90% of the quota allocated to the FROM Nord organization, far ahead of inshore fishermen. Imagine, recreational fishermen take 2.31% of what one of these vessels takes! And that's without mentioning factory ships from outside the EU.
One of my constituents worriedly told me about the recent inspection of such a factory ship carrying 120 tonnes of mackerel. That's more than the annual catch of all recreational fishermen in a single trawling campaign!
A marginal biological impact, an illegitimate measure
Now that the stock is in a critical state, this allocation of quotas is deemed unfair and destructive. What's more, large industrial vessels often land abroad, which doesn't support the French coastal economy.
A quota of 5 mackerel will not change the biomass. The percentages mentioned above are negligible. Many fish are lost on board, and more and more by boat due to the scarcity of the species, which is increasingly echoed by yachtsmen on the pontoons. As a result, when anglers are lucky enough to come across a hunt, they find themselves severely punished with the introduction of a quota. From now on, no more good luck. The average number of mackerel kept per trip will plummet, and will be at least divided by four. It can be estimated that recreational fishermen will catch around 26 tonnes in 2026 if the 5-fish quota is applied, representing 1.08% of the new national quota of 2,400 tonnes. This figure remains marginal.
1 million users and 3 billion in savings: a strong political signal!
It's an economic paradox. Recreational fishing doesn't sell its products, but it generates between 3 billion euros in annual spin-offs in France. Fuel, berths, equipment, boat maintenance, tourist accommodation, catering, professional guides: the activity irrigates the coastal economy. Its financial weight exceeds that of the catches it generates.
Factual analysis therefore shows that recreational fishing cannot be held remotely responsible for a massive drop in biomass estimated at several million tonnes on a European scale. The question then becomes one of proportionality of effort.
The measure has a strong symbolic effect. It officially includes recreational fishing among the players responsible for the conservation effort. The real weight is much more political than biological, and anglers know how to remind us of this on social networks, as we see in the next article in our dossier.
