Wat to catch - Mackerel

Date updated: September 2013
Season: Summer months
Socio-economic Importance: 
Ecological Importance:  Mackerel spend most of the year in deeper water away from coastal areas but move inshore during the mid and late summer months. Schools of mackerel are known to make extensive annual migrations in search of appropriate zooplankton and other prey species to feed on. Many species of mackerel can be found worldwide however in the KEIFCA district two stocks of Scromber scrombus are seen with the North Sea stock growing larger than the channel stock seen in the south of the district. Adult mackerel feed on various pelagic crustaceans and small fish including herring, sprat and sandeel while they themselves are predated on by larger pelagic fish species, marine mammals and birds.