ECOREGION Northeast Atlantic STOCK Mackerel in the northeast Atlantic SCIENTIFIC NAME Scomber scombrus BIOLOGY – SPECIES A pelagic schooling species that is abundant in cold and temperate shelf areas, Atlantic mackerel spawns in the south of the distribution area and migrates northwards to feed on small fish in summer. BIOLOGY – STOCK Three spawning components make up this stock. The Western component is the more abundant and the North Sea component remains depleted in spite of two decades of protective measures. The stock has apparently expanded north-westwards during spawning and the summer feeding migrations. THE FISHERY The North Sea component decreased dramatically in MAIN FISHING NATIONS the 1960s because of directed overfishing after the introduction of purse seines. Today, mackerel is mainly caught with purse seines, pelagic trawls and hand lines. Discards take place but cannot be accurately quantified. Norway, United Kingdom, and Iceland ADULT STOCK SIZE 4 605 000 tonnes (spring 2014) CATCH 932 000 tonnes (in 2013) STOCK STATUS Adult stock size is large enough and the fishing pressure is low enough to ensure an optimal use in the long term. Advice for 2015 The advice applies to the blue area. Stock distribution and management areas may be different. ICES advises on the basis of the Norway, Faroe Islands and EU management plan that catches in 2015 should be between 831 000 and 906 000 tonnes (at most 40% less than the 2014 estimated catch). Existing measures to protect the North Sea spawning component should remain in place. FURTHER INFORMATION The full technical advice of ICES for this stock can be found here. The present sheet aims to make the technical document understandable to a wider public, but it does not override or supersede the original advice. This stock is part of several marine ecosystems. Ecosystem overviews can be found here. Access the dynamic, interactive map of all ICES Popular Advice.