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Mackerel

This article is about the species of fish. For its use as food, see Mackerel as food.
For other uses, see Mackerel (disambiguation).
Mackerel
Some species of mackerel migrate in schools for long distances along the coast and other species cross oceans
Global commercial capture of mackerel in millions of tonnes
reported by the FAO 1950–2009[1]
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Mackerel is a common name applied to a number of different species of pelagic fish, mostly from the family Scombridae. They are found in both temperate and tropical seas, mostly living along the coast or offshore in the oceanic environment.

Mackerel species typically have deeply forked tails and vertical "tiger-like" stripes on their backs with an iridescent green-blue quality.[2][3] Many are restricted in their distribution ranges and live in separate populations or fish stocks based on geography. Some stocks migrate in large schools along the coast to suitable spawning grounds, where they spawn in fairly shallow waters. After spawning they return the way they came in smaller schools to suitable feeding grounds, often near an area of upwelling. From there they may move offshore into deeper waters and spend the winter in relative inactivity. Other stocks migrate across oceans.

Smaller mackerel are forage fish for larger predators, including larger mackerel and Atlantic cod.[4] Flocks of seabirds, whales, dolphins, sharks, and schools of larger fish such as tuna and marlin follow mackerel schools and attack them in sophisticated and cooperative ways. Mackerel flesh is high in omega-3 oils and is intensively harvested by humans. In 2009, over 5 million tons were landed by commercial fishermen.[1] Sport fishermen value the fighting abilities of the king mackerel.[5]

  1. ^ a b Based on data sourced from the relevant FAO Species Fact Sheets
  2. ^ "Mackerel. Scientific name: Scomber scombrus". The Wildlife Trusts. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Mackerel: to fish or not to fish?". Marine Stewardship Council. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  4. ^ Daan, N. (December 1973). "A quantitative analysis of the food intake of North Sea cod, Gadus Morhua". Netherlands Journal of Sea Research. 6 (4): 479–517. Bibcode:1973NJSR....6..479D. doi:10.1016/0077-7579(73)90002-1.
  5. ^ King mackerel (11th ed.). Merriam Webster. 2008. p. 688. ISBN 9780877798095. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)

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