Profile updated on 21 December 2022

SUMMARY

SUMMARY

IDENTIFICATION

SCIENTIFIC NAME(s)

Scomber scombrus

SPECIES NAME(s)

Atlantic mackerel

The Atlantic mackerel, Scomber scombrus, is a common pelagic species distributed in the Northern Atlantic Ocean and in the temperate waters of the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea down to about 200 m.  Northeast Atlantic mackerel defines the mackerel in the region from ICES Division subareas 1–8 and 14, and in Division 9.a. Spawning areas are equally widely distributed but catches are attributed to three spawning components by area – North Sea (4, 3a), Western (6, 7, 8 a,b,d,e) and Southern (8c, 9a). Fish from Southern and Western areas have been shown to migrate to the North Sea, Norwegian Sea and Baltic Sea after spawning where they become indistinct from other components. Given the uncertainties in the determination of a stock structure, an assessment unit is considered in the Northeast Atlantic and adjacent waters (Brunel et al. 2017)(ICES 2019).


ANALYSIS

Strengths
  • Stock assessment is performed every year.

SCORES

Management Quality:

Management Strategy:

≥ 6

Managers Compliance:

3.2

Fishers Compliance:

10.0