(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species mackerel, Atlantic
Species Id M010502
Date 27 AUG 96

TAXONOMY

NAME - mackerel, Atlantic

OTHER COMMON NAMES - Common mackerel, Tinker (a half-grown mackerel) and Fr: Maquereau bleu

ELEMENT CODE -

CATEGORY - Fish

PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - ,

CLASS AND SUBCLASS - Osteichthyes,

ORDER AND SUBORDER - Perciformes,

FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - Scombridae,

GENUS AND SUBGENUS - Scomber,

SPECIES AND SSP - scombrus,

SCIENTIFIC NAME - Scomber scombrus

AUTHORITY - Linnaeus, 1758

TAXONOMY REFERENCES - 258

Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species mackerel, Atlantic
Species Id M010502
Date 27 AUG 96

STATUS

Coded Status
Migrant
Commercial/consumption
Commercial/industrial
Commercial/bait
Sport Fish
See Comments

REFERENCES FOR STATUS - 258

COMMENTS ON STATUS -
Atlantic mackerel are pelagic inhabitants of temperate waters of the open
sea and one of the most active and migratory fishes *258*.

The Atlantic mackerel has been highly regarded as a food fish for centuries,
but the landings fluctuated greatly from year to year. In 1884, the catch
of the United States and Canada totaled 105,700 t but by 1910 the catch had
dropped to 5700 t. In recent years the fluctuations have been less
dramatic. From 1973 to 1983 the Canadian catch ranged from 14,000 to 30,000
t; in 1983 Canadian landings totaled 20,000 t, valued at approximately $5
million *258*.

The conduct of the fishery has changed markedly over the years. The
Canadian fishery is now an inshore small-boat fishery and the gear used
varies from place to place. Purse seines and bar seines are used in eastern
Newfoundland, purse seines and gill nets in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, trap
nets and gill nets in Nova Scotia, and purse seines but mainly gill nets by
New Brunswick fishermen. Canadian catches are sometimes sold under permit
as 'over-the-side sales' directly from Canadian vessels to foreign factory
freezers. Sprot fishing for mackerel is also growing, especially in United
States waters *258*.

The flesh is of excellent flavor and is used fresh, frozen, canned, and
occasionally smoked. It is also used as bait in the snow crab and pelagic
longline fishery for swordfish and tuna, and in production of fish meal.
Mackerel flesh has a high oil content and must be carefully handled by icing
or refrigeration to maintain high quality *258*.

Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Distribution
Species mackerel, Atlantic
Species Id M010502
Date 27 AUG 96

DISTRIBUTION

Distribution - 1 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS

HABITAT - MARINE

REFERENCES FOR HABITAT - 258

LAND USE -
Water
Bays and Estuaries

REFERENCES FOR LAND USE - 258

COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
Atlantic mackerel are pelagic inhabitants of temperate waters of the open
sea and one of the most active and migratory fishes. It is a strong
schooling species, the schools usually made up of fish of similar size.
During the winter they occupy moderately deep water, 70-200 m, along the
continental shelf, from about Sable Island Bank to off Chesapeake Bay,
usually in water temperatures above 7 oC. In general, adults prefer
temperatures in the range of 9-12 oC and avoid cool areas, like the Bay of
Fundy, except during unusually warm years, although half-grown mackerel
(called 'tinkers') do appear throughout the bay each summer *258*.

In spring there is general inshore and northeastward migration. About half
the overwintering aggregation moves toward United States coastal waters,
while the other half moves northeastward to the Canadian spawning grounds
in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. These two groups are regarded as two
populations *258*.

Tagging has indicated that considerable movement occurs in addition to the
spawning migration. A mackerel tagged in northeastern Newfoundland in 1972
was recaptured in 1974 south of Long Island. Others tagged off the Magdalen
Islands have been recovered near Halifax and southward to Massachusetts
*258*.

On completion of spawning, the adults move to various feeding areas off
Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, eventually returning to their wintering area
along the shelf southwestward of Sable Island *258*.

ANIMAL/PLANT SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS -
Porbeagles
Dogfish
Atlantic cod
Bluefin tuna
Swordfish
Porpoises
Harbour seals
Monogenean (Kuhnia scombri)
Trematode (Podocotyle atomon)
Trematode (Podocotyle simplex)
Nematode (Anisakis simplex)
Nematode (Thynnascaris adunca)
Protozoan (Haematractidium scombri)

REFERENCES FOR SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS - 258

COMMENTS ON SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS -
Predation and competition: Mackerel are preyed upon by many creatures, such
as porbeagles, dogfish, Atlantic cod, bluefin tuna, swordfish, porpoises,
and harbour seal *258*.
Habitat Associations - 1
Parasites and Disease: Atlantic mackerel have relatively few parasites. A
study listed the monogenean Kuhnia scombri on gills, the trematodes
Podocotyle atomon and P. simplex, and two species of Nematodes, Anisakis
simplex and Thynnascaris adunca. A blood protozoan, Haimatractidium
scombri, has been reported from mackerel caught in the Gulf of Maine *258*.

Habitat Associations - 2 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species mackerel, Atlantic
Species Id M010502
Date 27 AUG 96

FOOD HABITS

TROPHIC LEVEL -
CARNIVORE

REFERENCES FOR TROPHIC LEVEL - 258

LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
General Plankton Not Specified
General Crustaceans Not Specified
General Arachnids Not Specified
General Arachnids Larva stage
General Squid, Octopus Not Specified
General Osteichthyes Egg/Fetus stage
General Osteichthyes Larva stage
General Osteichthyes Juvenile stage
General Salmoniformes Larva stage
General Salmoniformes Juvenile stage
General Clupeiformes Larva stage
General Clupeiformes Juvenile stage

REFERENCES FOR GENERAL FOOD - 258

COMMENTS ON FOOD -
Mackerel feed in two ways, by filter feeding and by individual selection of
organisms. Filter feeding occurs when small planktonic creatures are
abundant and mackerel can move through patches of plankton with mouth open,
engulfing the small organisms and filtering them out with their gill rakers.
Individual selection or particulate feeding involves pursuit and capture. In
Newfoundland waters this may be the usual method of feeding throughout the
season. A great variety of planktonic organisms are eaten in this way,
including amphipods, euphausiids, shrimps, crab larvae, small squid, fish
eggs, and the young of other fishes including capelin and herring. Mackerel
are considered to feed heaviest in spring *258*.

Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species mackerel, Atlantic
Species Id M010502
Date 27 AUG 96

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS

G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae

LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Open water [pelagic zone]
G Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Specified in Comments
G Water Depth Preference: 200-500 ft.
G Water Depth Preference: 500-1000 ft.
G Water Depth Preference: Specified in Comments
G Water Temperature: Below 15 degrees C
G Water Temperature: Specified in Comments
A Water Temperature: Below 15 degrees C
A Water Temperature: Specified in Comments
BA Water Temperature: Below 15 degrees C
BA Water Temperature: Specified in Comments
E Water Depth Preference: 25-50 ft.
E Water Depth Preference: Specified in Comments
E Water Temperature: Below 15 degrees C
E Water Temperature: Specified in Comments

REFERENCES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 258

REFERENCES FOR ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 258

REFERENCES FOR BREEDING ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 258

REFERENCES FOR EGG ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 258

COMMENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS -
Atlantic mackerel are pelagic inhabitants of temperate waters of the open
sea and one of the most active and migratory fishes. It is a strong
schooling species, the schools usually made up of fish of similar size.
During the winter they occupy moderately deep water, 70-200 m, along the
continental shelf, from about Sable Island Bank to off Chesapeake Bay,
usually in water temperatures above 7 oC. In general, adults prefer
temperatures in the range of 9-12 oC and avoid cool areas, like the Bay of
Fundy, except during unusually warm years, although half-grown mackerel
(called 'tinkers') do appear throughout the bay each summer *258*.

populations *258*.

On completion of spawning, the adults move to various feeding areas off
Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, eventually returning to theie wintering area
along the shelf southwestward of Sable Island *258*.

COMMENTS ON ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ -
In general, adults prefer temperatures in the range of 9-12 oC and avoid
cool areas, like the Bay of Fundy, except during unusually warm years,
although half-grown mackerel (called 'tinkers') do appear throughout the
bay each summer *258*.

COMMENTS ON BREEDING ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ -
Spawning occurs from about mid-June to mid-July occasionally longer, in
open water at temperatures of 9-13.5 oC. Maximum spawning occurs at about
12 oC *258*.

COMMENTS ON EGG ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ -
Eggs are concentrated in the upper 10 m of water *258*.

They hatch in 5-7 d at temperatures of 11-14 oC *258*.

Environment Associations - 2 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species mackerel, Atlantic
Species Id M010502
Date 27 AUG 96

LIFE HISTORY

Atlantic mackerel is a strong schooling species, the schools usually made up
of fish of similar size *258*.

Reproduction: Mackerel spawn mainly in two separate regions in the
northwest Atlantic: in coastal waters between Cape Cod and Cape Hatteras
and in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. In Canadian waters limited spawning may
occur off the coasts of Nova Scotia or Newfoundland but the most important
spawning ground is the Magdalen Shallows in the southern Gulf of St.
Lawrence. Spawning occurs from about mid-June to mid-July, occasionally
longer, in open water at temperatures of 9-13.5 oC. The eggs and sperm are
released in the upper part of the water column. Maximum spawning occurs at
about 12 oC. Eggs are concentrated in the upper 10 m of water *258*.

Fecundity was calculated to be 211,400 eggs for a female 35 cm TL and
397,200 eggs for one 40 cm TL, which agrees with the estimate of 400,000
eggs for an average-sized female. Eggs measure, on average, 1.3 mm in
diameter at the beginning of spawning but decrease in size as the spawning
season progresses, to 1.1 mm in diameter. Eggs are spherical, smooth, and
transparent, and contain a single oil globule. They hatch in 5-7 d at
temperatures of 11-14 oC *258*.

Growth: Young mackerel are about 3 mm long on hatching. Early growth is
rapid. Fish hatched in June or July reached a length of 16.5 cm in 90 d and
grew to 20 cm by November. Although spawning in the Gulf of St. Lawrence is
later than it is south of Cape Cod and, therefore, the growing season is
shorter, the rate of growth of the northern population is faster so the
young from the two population end the first growing season at about the same
size *258*.

Growth in the northern population in the second year is also rapid but
slower than the first year. Size attained varies greatly with locality and
from year to year. Individuals from dominant year-classes tend to be
smaller than from non-dominant year-classes at each age up to age 6.
Mackerel live at least to 14 yr old *258*.

Sexual maturity may be attained at 2 yr. old and a length of 30 cm, and most
will mature by age 4 and 34 cm. Size averages about 32-36 cm; a 36-cm fish
will weigh about 0.5 kg but a fall-caught fish will be heavier because of
increased oil content. A study estimated that a 56-cm fish would weigh
about 1.8 kg and noted that a fish weighing 3.4 kg was caught in 1925, but
such large mackerel are very rare *258*.

Mackerel are aged by otolith examination *258*.

Description: Body fusiform, beautifully streamlined, slightly compressed,
tapering to a slender caudal peduncle bearing two short keels on either
side. Head with pointed snout; mouth terminal, large; small, slender teeth
in jaws and vomer, palatine teeth in two widely spaced rows; eye moderate,
adipose eyelid present. Gill rakers slender, well developed, 25-35 on lower
limb, first arch. Fins: dorsals, 2, first spiny, of 10-14 slender spines,
may be hidden in a groove; second dorsal widely separated from first dorsal,
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species mackerel, Atlantic
Species Id M010502
Date 27 AUG 96

10-13, usually 11 or 12 soft rays followed by 5 (4-6) dorsal finlets; caudal
slender, deeply forked; anal, 1 slender spine, 12 (10-13) soft rays,
followed by 5 (4-6) anal finlets; pelvics small, thoracic, 1 spine and 5
soft rays; pectorals short, high on sides, 18-21 soft rays. Scales small,
smooth, covering entire body, skin velvet-like. Lateral line evident. Swim
bladder absent. Interneural bones under first dorsal fin 21-28. Vertebrae
31 (13 precaudal + 18 caudal, including urostyle). Size averages 32-36 cm
TL. Color: back greenish blue with 23-33 dark wavy bands extending only to
midline, becoming deep blue after death; flanks and abdomen silver gray to
silvery white, often with pinkish iridescence. Fins often dusky *258*.

Predation and competition: Mackerel are preyed upon by many creatures, such
as porbeagles, dogfish, Atlantic cod, bluefin tuna, swordfish, porpoises,
and harbour seal *258*.

Parasites and Disease: Atlantic mackerel have relatively few parasites. A
study listed the monogenean Kuhnia scombri on gills, the trematodes
Podocotyle atomon and P. simplex, and two species of Nematodes, Anisakis
simplex and Thynnascaris adunca. A blood protozoan, Haimatractidium
scombri, has been reported from mackerel caught in the Gulf of Maine *258*.

Mackerel feed in two ways, by filter feeding and by individual selection of
organisms *258*

Mackerel are considered to feed heaviest in spring *258*.

LIFE HISTORY CODES -
Dispersion: Clumped
Breeding/Spawning Season: June
Breeding/Spawning Season: July
Average Number of Offspring/Reproductive Effort: Grea
Gestation/Incubation Period: 5-7 days
Foraging Strategy: Filtering
Periodicity: Most active in early spring
Periodicity: Most active in late spring

REFERENCES FOR LIFE HISTORY- 258

Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species mackerel, Atlantic
Species Id M010502
Date 27 AUG 96

MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - References
Species mackerel, Atlantic
Species Id M010502
Date 27 AUG 96

References

258 * Scott, W.B., M.G. Scott. 1988. Atlantic Fishes of Canada.
Canadian Bulletin of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (219) (ed.).
University of Toronto Press Toronto, Canada:731.

References - 1