Profile updated on 22 May 2023

SUMMARY

SUMMARY

IDENTIFICATION

SCIENTIFIC NAME(s)

Scomber colias

SPECIES NAME(s)

Atlantic chub mackerel, Chub mackerel

The Atlantic chub mackerel, Scomber colias, is widely distributed on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, including the Mediterranean and Black Seas (ICES 2020)(ICES 2021).

The dynamics and stock identity of Atlantic chub mackerel in Atlantic European and Atlantic African waters remain unknown (ICES 2021). A recent ICES workshop mentioned a potential distribution boundary in the Strait of Gibraltar based on latitudinal trends of several biological parameters, which would support the separation of an NW African stock, but the connectivity of the Mediterranean distribution is unclear (ICES 2021). Further studies are underway (ICES 2020)(ICES 2021).

While no assessment is conducted in European and Mediterranean waters, the FAO CECAF assesses chub mackerel within NW African waters as a single stock (FAO 2020)


ANALYSIS

Strengths
  • CECAF, the FAO Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic, conducts regular stock assessments of the main small pelagic species in NW Africa. The last assessments were conducted in 2020 and 2021 considering multiple models and data sources. In the case of the chub mackerel, a single stock in the NW African region was considered (FAO 2020)(FAO 2022). Results from the 2021 assessment are considered preliminary (FAO 2022).
  • The IMROP regularly evaluates the status of all the small pelagic species in Mauritanian waters, including chub mackerel (IMROP 2020), although these assessments are strongly based on FAO assessments. 

SCORES

Management Quality:

Management Strategy:

≥ 6

Managers Compliance:

≥ 6

Fishers Compliance:

< 6