Scomber scombrus
Atlantic Mackerel
NS
G5
Collection Details
Specimens
Photos
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Perciformes (Perciformes, Also Called the Acanthopteri)
Scombridae (Mackerels)
Scomber
Scomber scombrus (Atlantic Mackerel)
Description
This species account was compiled from
FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2025. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version 04/2025.)
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Characters
Body shape: fusiform / normal. This species has the following characters: no well developed corselet; interpelvic process small and single; anal fin spine conspicuous, joined to the fin by a membrane but clearly independent of it; anal fin origin opposite that of second dorsal fin; no swim bladder; first haemal spine anterior to first interneural process; 21-28 interneural bones under first dorsal fin; markings on back oblique to near vertical, with relatively little undulating; belly unmarked (Ref. 168). Striking features: none.
Distribution
North Atlantic: including the Mediterranean.
Habitat Associations
Brackish, marine. pelagic-neritic. depth range 0-1000 m.
Biology
Abundant in cold and temperate shelf areas, forms large schools near the surface. They overwinter in deeper waters but move closer to shore in spring when water temperatures range between 11° and 14°C. Mainly diurnal, it feeds on zooplankton and small fish. Eggs and larvae are pelagic (Ref. 6769). Batch spawner (Ref. 51846). The species is traded fresh, frozen, smoked and canned. Eaten fried, broiled and baked (Ref. 9988). Two stocks in north-east Atlantic: North Sea (east) and British Isles (west). North Sea stock decreased dramatically in the 1960's because of direct overfishing. Recruitment has been poor and unstable. After spawning, the adult feed very actively moving around in small shoals (Ref. 35388).
Max length: 60.0 cm FL; common length: 30.0 cm FL; max weight: 3400 g; max age: 17 years.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; nonguarders (open water/substratum egg scatterers); parental care: none.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2022-06-01. Resilience: Medium (rm=0.33-0.56; K=0.23-0.27; tm=2-3; tmax=17; Fec=200,000).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: highly commercial; gamefish.
References
Collette, B.B. and C.E. Nauen (1983) FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 2. Scombrids of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of tunas, mackerels, bonitos and related species known to date. Rome: FAO. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(2):137 p.
Daan, N. (1989) Data base report of the stomach sampling project 1981. Cooperative Research Report No. 164, International Council for the Exploration of the Sea Palægade 2-4, 1261 Copenhagen K, Denmark.
Muus, B.J. and J.G. Nielsen (1999) Sea fish. Scandinavian Fishing Year Book, Hedehusene, Denmark. 340 p.
Collette, B.B. (2003) Family Scombridae Rafinesque 1815 - mackerels, tunas, and bonitos. Calif. Acad. Sci. Annotated Checklists of Fishes (19):28.
FAO-FIGIS (2005) A world overview of species of interest to fisheries. Chapter: Scomber scombrus. Retrieved on 05 May 2005, from www.fao.org/figis/servlet/species?fid=2473. 3p. FIGIS Species Fact Sheets. Species Identification and Data Programme-SIDP, FAO-FIGIS
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