Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus)

Description

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Atlantic mackerel fact file

• Description
• Biology
• Range
• Habitat
• Status
• Threats
• Conservation
• Find out more
• Glossary
• References
• Print factsheet

Atlantic mackerel description

The Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) is a beautifully streamlined, fast-swimming fish. It has silver underparts and metallic green and blue upperparts with irregular bands along the back ⁽⁴⁾. It belongs to the same family as tuna ⁽⁵⁾, and is a highly commercial species ⁽²⁾.

French

Maquereau, Maquereau Commun.

Spanish

Caballa del Atlántico, Maquereau Bleu, Verdel, Xarda.

Size

Length: up to 60 cm ⁽²⁾

Weight

up to 3.4 kg ⁽²⁾

Atlantic mackerel biology

Adult Atlantic mackerels form schools close to the surface; they have to swim constantly as they 'breathe' by a method known as ram ventilation, which requires a constant flow of water across the gill surfaces ⁽⁶⁾.

They are active mainly in the day ⁽²⁾, and feed on small fishes such as sand eels (Ammodytes spp.), as well as small crustaceans, which are filtered from the water ⁽⁵⁾. They spend the winter in deep water, and stop feeding at this time ⁽⁵⁾; they migrate closer to shore during spring ⁽²⁾.

During spawning, eggs and sperm are released into the sea. Both the eggs and larvae are pelagic; the eggs have a globule of oil, which keeps them afloat in the surface waters ⁽⁵⁾. Larvae begin to feed on copepods (tiny crustaceans) when they reach sizes of around three millimetres. They will have grown to lengths of 25 centimetres after just one year. This is a long-lived species; the maximum recorded lifespan in the North Sea is 25 years ⁽⁵⁾.

Atlantic mackerel range

Inhabits the north Atlantic Ocean, as well as the Baltic, Mediterranean and Black Seas. Along the coast of North America the Atlantic mackerel is found from Labrador to Cape Lookout. There are two main stocks in the north-east Atlantic, the North Sea (east) and British Isles (west) ⁽²⁾.

You can view distribution information for this species at the National Biodiversity Network Gateway.

Atlantic mackerel habitat

The pelagic Atlantic mackerel lives in the open ocean ⁽²⁾.

Atlantic mackerel status

The Atlantic mackerel is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List ⁽¹⁾. It is widespread and common, but facing severe fishing pressure ⁽³⁾.

Atlantic mackerel threats

The North Sea and British Isles stocks of Atlantic mackerel declined drastically during the 1960's as a result of overfishing ⁽²⁾. Indeed, like many commercial marine fishes, the Atlantic mackerel faces severe pressure from fishing throughout its wide range ⁽³⁾. The overfishing of stocks of commercial fish is a severe and complex problem around the world, with many well-known species including cod and plaice in serious decline and at risk of complete collapse ⁽⁷⁾. As the technology involved in fishing has improved and the number of faster, more efficient boats has increased, populations of fish have decreased further and have been unable to reproduce fast enough to compensate for the massive losses ⁽⁷⁾. The problem can be summed up as: 'too many boats chasing too few fish' ⁽³⁾.

Atlantic mackerel conservation

In Europe, the European Union is responsible for conserving and managing marine fish and their fisheries, with fisheries controlled by the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) ⁽³⁾. However, in the past the CFP has not effectively controlled the fishing fleets of the EU; furthermore there are complex socio-economic issues involved in this controversial issue, with entire communities wholly dependent on the fishing industry ⁽³⁾. The International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) advises governments on the status of fish stocks, yet often their warnings have gone unheeded ⁽⁷⁾. The British Government has limited powers to initiate marine fisheries management measures. However, a grouped Action Plan for commercial marine fish has been produced under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. This aims to minimise the collapse of local stocks of a number of commercially exploited marine fish ⁽³⁾.

There may be further information about this species available via the National Biodiversity Network Gateway.

View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

Find out more

For more on the Atlantic mackerel:

• The Fishbase species account:
  http://www.fishbase.org

For more on European fisheries:

• Europa, Fisheries:
  http://europa.eu.int/comm/fisheries/policy_en.htm

Authentication

This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact:
arkive@wildscreen.org.uk

Glossary

Larvae

Stage in an animal's lifecycle after it hatches from the egg. Larvae are typically very different in appearance to adults; they are able to feed and move around but usually are unable to reproduce.

Pelagic

Inhabits the open oceans.

References

1. IUCN Red List draft assessment (July, 2011)
   http://sci.odu.edu/gmsa/about/tunas_billfishes.shtml
2. Fishbase species account (Jan 2003):
   http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?genusname=Scomber&speciesname=scombrus
3. UKBAP- Grouped Action Plan for commercial marine fish. (January 2003):
   http://www.ukbap.org.uk
4. Buczacki, S. (2002) Fauna Britannica. Hamlyn, London.
5. British Marine Life Study Society: Atlantic mackerel (Jan 2003):
   http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/BMLSS/homepage.htm
6. NOAA (1991) Essential Fish Habitat Source Document: Atlantic Mackerel, Scomber scrombus, Life History and Habitat Characteristics. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-141. (January 2003):
   http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/nefsc/publications/tm/tm141/tm141.pdf
7. Brown, P. (2000) Overfishing brings more bad news to struggling ports. Guardian Unlimited (January 2003):
   http://www.guardian.co.uk/fish/story/0,7369,411763,00.html