The Pelagic RAC prepares and provides advice on the management of pelagic fish stocks on behalf of the fisheries sector and other stakeholders. It covers the pelagic stocks of all the areas, excluding the stocks in the Baltic Sea and Mediterranean Sea. The Pelagic RAC (as a foundation under Dutch law) was inaugurated on 16 August 2005, and consists of a General Assembly, an Executive Committee and two Working Groups. The work is furthermore done in collaboration with observers, for example, from non-EU countries that have an interest in particular stocks or regions covered by the Pelagic RAC.
Most practical work is done by working groups that consist of members of the general assembly. The Pelagic RAC has two working groups: Working Group I dealing with herring and mackerel and Working Group II dealing with blue whiting and horse mackerel.