Public consultation for the 5 mackerels and their declaration: have your say

Fishermen have until March 12 to give their opinion © Guillaume Fourrier

The 5-mackerel quota is now the subject of a public consultation open until March 12, 2026. A crucial democratic meeting, provided that the arguments and figures put forward are transparent and in line with the reality on the ground.

Guillaume Fourrier Published on March 4, 2026

The public consultation on the draft decree governing recreational mackerel fishing is open until march 12, 2026 . Everyone can have their say here : https://www.consultations-publiques.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/spip.php?page=forum&id_article=3308 (other links below). The text provides for a limit of 5 mackerel per day and per fisherman, as well as the inclusion of the species in the declaration system via the RecFishing application.

A justification based on false and unsourced estimates!

The Ministry justifies the measure by the need for a shared effort in the context of a massive reduction in professional quotas. However, the introduction to the draft decree raises a number of questions:
"The estimated average mackerel catch is currently 7 specimens per day per fisherman

Les pÃªcheurs de loisir peuvent s'exprimer sur le quota de 5 maquereaux — Recreational fishermen have their say on the 5-mackerel quota

This average of 7 mackerel raises questions. In the field, it corresponds neither to shore fishing, marked by numerous failures, nor to the current reality on boats, where the search for mackerel is becoming more random with the state of the stock. In our own deliberately cautious estimates, we used an average of 2 to 3 preserved fish per shore angler and 5 by boat . Never an average of 7 mackerel per year, whatever the weather, for all the fishermen in France! Does this mean that every time you walk along a pier, every fisherman has an average of 7 mackerel? An assumption far from reality in the field.

If the statistical base is overestimated, the reduction to 5 mackerel becomes mechanically more severe than announced. Transparency on the origin of this figure is therefore essential. Where does this data come from?

A consultation that challenges the credibility of figures

Public consultation is not a simple opinion poll. Each contribution contributes officially to the regulatory dossier. It provides an opportunity to question the assumptions made, and to request publication of the sources that led to the 7-fish average.

It is also worth recalling the orders of magnitude established earlier: approximately 104 tonnes of mackerel harvested by Atlantic recreational fishermen or 0.65% of the 16,000 tonnes caught by French professionals in 2025 . The gap between these volumes and international industrial pressure remains considerable.

The proportionality of the measure is at the heart of the debate. Framing is not illegitimate. But framing on the basis of questionable figures weakens the social acceptability of the rule.

L'arrÃªtÃ© propose bien 5 maquereaux par pÃªcheur et par jour — The decree proposes 5 mackerel per fisherman per day

How can I take part in the debate?

Contributions can be submitted directly to the Ministry's official website. It is advisable to respond in a well-argued, factual manner, citing verifiable data and avoiding excessive reactions.

The issue goes beyond mackerel. It concerns the role of recreational fishing in the management of marine resources. March 12, 2026 will mark the end of the expression phase. It remains to be seen whether this consultation will really influence the final decree, which has never been the case to date for sea bass and pollack, for example.