Atlantic Mackerel
Atlantic Mackerel
Scomber scombrus
Also Known As
Mackerel, Common mackerel, Boston mackerel, Caballa
Quick Facts
Region
New England/Mid-Atlantic,
Southeast
About the Species
U.S. wild-caught Atlantic mackerel is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Population
The stock is not overfished.
Fishing Rate
Not subject to overfishing.
Habitat Impact
Fishing gears used to harvest Atlantic mackerel have minimal impacts on habitat.
Bycatch
Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch.
Population Status
- According to the 2025 stock assessment, Atlantic mackerel is not overfished but still rebuilding to the target level, and not subject to overfishing. Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART.
Appearance
- Atlantic mackerel are iridescent blue green on the back with a silvery white underbelly.
- They have 20 to 30 wavy black bars that run across the top half of their body, and a narrow dark streak that runs below these bars along each side.
- Their body is spindle-shaped, tapering at both ends.
- Their two large dorsal fins are gray or dusky. The pectoral fins are black or dusky at the base, and the tail fin is gray or dusky.
- Their distinctive coloring fades quickly after they die.
Biology
- Atlantic mackerel grow fast, up to 16 ½ inches and 2.2 pounds.
- They can live up to 20 years and are able to reproduce by the time they reach age 2 to 3.
- There are two major spawning groups of Atlantic mackerel in the western Atlantic:
- The southern group spawns primarily in the Mid-Atlantic Bight from April to May.
- The northern group spawns in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in June and July.
- Both groups typically spawn 10 to 30 miles off shore.
- Depending on their size, females can have between 285,000 and almost 2 million eggs. They release their eggs in batches, between five and seven times throughout the spawning season.
- Eggs generally float in the surface water and hatch in 4 to 7 ½ days, depending on water temperature.
- Atlantic mackerel feed heavily on crustaceans such as copepods, krill, and shrimp. They also eat squid, as well as some fish and ascidians (sac-like marine invertebrate filter feeders).
- Several species of fish and marine mammals eat Atlantic mackerel.
Where They Live
Range
- Atlantic mackerel are found on both sides of the North Atlantic Ocean, including in the Baltic Sea. In the western Atlantic, they’re found from Labrador to North Carolina.
Habitat
- Atlantic mackerel are common in cold and temperate waters over the continental shelf. They swim in schools near the surface, and travel to and from spawning and summering grounds.
Fishery Management
- NOAA Fisheries and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council manage the Atlantic mackerel fishery.
- Managed under the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan:
- Mackerel are managed in federal waters. There are no state management measures for mackerel.
- Managed using annual catch limits allocated between the commercial and recreational fisheries.
- Managers monitor commercial catch on a weekly basis and will close the fisheries if the limits are reached before the fishing season is over.
- Fishermen must have a permit to harvest Atlantic mackerel.
- Managers limit the amount of available permits to control harvests.
- Under a limited access program, permits are issued to qualifying fishermen, dividing fishermen into three tiers based on their past participation in the fishery. This program is designed to reduce the fishing capacity of the mackerel fleet while allowing qualified vessels to continue fishing for mackerel at their historical or recent level of participation.
- A rebuilding plan to rebuild the stock to the target population level is in place with a target date of 2024.
Harvest
- Commercial fishery:
- In 2024, commercial landings of Atlantic mackerel totaled 2 million pounds and were valued at $1 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database. Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Maine harvested the majority.
- The U.S. commercial fishery for Atlantic mackerel operates primarily between January and May in southern New England and Mid-Atlantic coastal waters and between May and December in the Gulf of Maine.
- Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch:
- Fishermen harvest mackerel in large volumes using mid-water trawls.
- Although mid-water trawls have minimal impact on habitat, they can incidentally catch marine mammals such as short- and long-finned pilot whales, Atlantic white-sided dolphins, and common dolphins.
- The Atlantic Trawl Gear Take Reduction Strategy provides measures to reduce potential impacts of bycatch. These include outreach to educate fishermen about actions to take in the event of a marine mammal interaction and efforts to communicate interaction hotspots to fishermen in real time. It also contains voluntary measures concerning fishing practices, such as reducing tow times and limiting turns while fishing.
- The mackerel fishery has some incidental catch of river herring and shad. A cap was established in 2014 to limit river herring and shad catch in the mackerel fishery.
- Recreational fishery:
- Mackerel are important to recreational fisheries in the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions, with the highest landings occurrding from Massachusetts and Maine.
- In 2024, recreational harvest of Atlantic mackerel totaled 2.6 million pounds, according to the NOAA Fisheries recreational fishing landings database.
- The recreational mackerel fishery is open all year, with a catch limit set annually at the same time as commercial limits.
Scientific Classification
- Atlantic mackerel are found on both sides of the North Atlantic Ocean, including in the Baltic Sea. In the western Atlantic, they’re found from Labrador to North Carolina.
- Atlantic mackerel are common in cold and temperate waters over the continental shelf. They swim in schools near the surface, and travel to and from spawning and summering grounds.
Fishery Management
- NOAA Fisheries and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council manage the Atlantic mackerel fishery.
- Managed under the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan:
- Mackerel are managed in federal waters. There are no state management measures for mackerel.
- Managed using annual catch limits allocated between the commercial and recreational fisheries.
- Managers monitor commercial catch on a weekly basis and will close the fisheries if the limits are reached before the fishing season is over.
- Fishermen must have a permit to harvest Atlantic mackerel.
- Managers limit the amount of available permits to control harvests.
- Under a limited access program, permits are issued to qualifying fishermen, dividing fishermen into three tiers based on their past participation in the fishery. This program is designed to reduce the fishing capacity of the mackerel fleet while allowing qualified vessels to continue fishing for mackerel at their historical or recent level of participation.
- A rebuilding plan to rebuild the stock to the target population level is in place with a target date of 2024.
Harvest
- Commercial fishery:
- In 2024, commercial landings of Atlantic mackerel totaled 2 million pounds and were valued at $1 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database. Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Maine harvested the majority.
- The U.S. commercial fishery for Atlantic mackerel operates primarily between January and May in southern New England and Mid-Atlantic coastal waters and between May and December in the Gulf of Maine.
- Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch:
- Fishermen harvest mackerel in large volumes using mid-water trawls.
- Although mid-water trawls have minimal impact on habitat, they can incidentally catch marine mammals such as short- and long-finned pilot whales, Atlantic white-sided dolphins, and common dolphins.
- The Atlantic Trawl Gear Take Reduction Strategy provides measures to reduce potential impacts of bycatch. These include outreach to educate fishermen about actions to take in the event of a marine mammal interaction and efforts to communicate interaction hotspots to fishermen in real time. It also contains voluntary measures concerning fishing practices, such as reducing tow times and limiting turns while fishing.
- The mackerel fishery has some incidental catch of river herring and shad. A cap was established in 2014 to limit river herring and shad catch in the mackerel fishery.
- Recreational fishery:
- Mackerel are important to recreational fisheries in the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions, with the highest landings occurrding from Massachusetts and Maine.
- In 2024, recreational harvest of Atlantic mackerel totaled 2.6 million pounds, according to the NOAA Fisheries recreational fishing landings database.
- The recreational mackerel fishery is open all year, with a catch limit set annually at the same time as commercial limits.
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia | Phylum | Chordata | Class | Actinopterygii | Order | Scombriformes | Family | Scombridae | Genus | Scomber | Species | scombrus |
|---|
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Seafood Facts
Is Atlantic Mackerel Sustainable?
U.S. wild-caught Atlantic mackerel is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Availability
Year-round. Some is sold fresh in domestic markets, but most is frozen and exported to markets around the world.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from Maine to North Carolina.
Taste
Mackerel has a rich, pronounced flavor. For a milder flavor, cut out the outer bands of dark meat along the midline.
Texture
Soft, flaky, and moist.
Color
Raw meat looks grayish and oily. When cooked it is off-white to beige.
Health Benefits
Mackerel is high in omega-3 fatty acids and is an excellent source of selenium, niacin, and vitamins B6 and B12.
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1; Serving Weight: 100 g (raw); Calories: 205; Protein: 18.6 g; Total Fat: 13.89 g; Total Saturated Fatty Acids: 3.257 g; Carbohydrate: 0 g; Total Sugars: 0 g; Total Dietary Fiber: 0 g; Cholesterol: 70 mg; Selenium: 44.1 mcg; Sodium: 90 mgMackerel Recipes
Need some cooking inspiration to incorporate mackerel into your rotation? Browse these recipes for grilled herb-broiled mackerel, pasta with mackerel, and more!
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Closed and Restricted Areas
This page provides a broad overview of the closed and gear restricted areas that apply to the Atlantic mackerel fishery.
Oceanographer Canyon and Lydonia Canyon
Mackerel, squid, and butterfish vessels are prohibited from fishing with bottom trawl gear in Oceanographer Canyon or Lydonia Canyon, or being in Oceanographer or Lydonia Canyon unless transiting. Vessels may only transit these areas if bottom trawl gear is stowed and not available for immediate use. These restrictions are in place year-round.
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Scup Gear Restricted Areas (GRA)
The Fluke, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) includes two gear restricted areas (GRA) that apply during different periods during the year. These GRAs impact vessels fishing for longfin squid, which can overlap with the Atlantic mackerel fishery.
Scup GRA Details
November 1 – December 31 | January 1 – March 15 |
Minimum mesh size of 5.0 inch diamond mesh | Minimum mesh size of 5.0 inch diamond mesh |
Transit allowed if codends less than 5.0 inches are stowed and not available for immediate use. | Transit allowed if codends less than 5.0 inches are stowed and not available for immediate u |
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Frank R. Lautenberg Deep-Sea Coral Protection Areas
Northeast Multispecies (Groundfish) Closed Areas
The Northeast Multispecies FMP includes a number of closed areas that apply to vessels fishing for Illex squid. For an overview of these areas, please see our groundfish closed areas webpage.
Exempted Fishing
The Northeast Multispecies (Groundfish) Fishery Management Plan includes gear requirements for each regulated mesh area (RMA) in the Greater Atlantic Region. In some cases, there are exemptions from these gear requirements for vessels fishing for Atlantic mackerel. A Letter of Authorization (LOA) from the Regional Administrator is required to fish under some of these exemptions. You can apply for an LOA through your Fish Online account. If you need help with the online application or setting up an account, or have any other questions about the online forms and applications, please contact our Permits Office at (978) 282‐8438 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET or email NMFS.GAR.Permits@noaa.gov.
Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank Small-Mesh Exemption Areas
Vessels may fish for whiting using small-mesh bottom trawl gear in the exemption areas listed below, as long as they meet the following conditions:
- Vessels must comply with all applicable season, area, and gear requirements.
- Vessels must comply with all applicable possession limits.
- Vessels must be issued a whiting (Category K Open Access Northeast Multispecies) permit or a limited access Northeast multispecies permit.
Vessels fishing for whiting in some of these exemption areas may only retain Atlantic mackerel as incidental catch while fishing for whiting (they may not target Atlantic mackerel).
Small-Mesh Exemption Areas Details
Area | Season | LOA Required | Mackerel as Incidental Catch Only? |
Gulf of Maine Grate Raised Footrope Trawl Whiting Fishery Exemption Area |
July 1 – November 30
| No | Yes |
June 15 – October 31
| Yes | Yes | |
Small-Mesh Area 1: July 15 – November 15
Small-Mesh Area 2: January 1 – June 30 | No | No (may target) | |
Raised Footrope Trawl Exempted Whiting Fishery Areas (Cape Cod) | September 1 – November 20; September 1 – December 31
| Yes | Yes |
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Midwater Trawl Gear Exempted Fishery
Vessels may fish with midwater trawl gear equipped with mesh smaller than the applicable minimum size, as long as they meet the following conditions:
- The vessel fishes exclusively with midwater trawl gear.
- The vessel carries an observer, if requested by the Regional Administrator.
- When fishing in the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank Exemption Area:
- The vessel is issued an LOA (minimum 7-day duration).
- The vessel only fishes for, possesses, or lands Atlantic herring, blueback herring, or mackerel north of 42°20′ N latitude, in Closed Area I North, and in Closed Area II.
- The vessel only fishes for, possesses, or lands Atlantic herring, blueback herring, mackerel, or squid south of 42°20′ N latitude.
- The vessel does not fish for, possess, or land groundfish, except:
- A vessel issued a Category A or B herring permit fishing on a declared herring trip may possess and land haddock and other regulated groundfish, consistent with the applicable catch caps and possession restrictions. Haddock that has been brought or pumped into the hold may not be discarded.
- A vessel issued a Category C, D, or E herring permit fishing with midwater trawl gear may possess and land haddock and other regulated groundfish, consistent with the applicable catch caps and possession restrictions. Haddock that has been brought or pumped into the hold may not be discarded.
- Such haddock and other regulated groundfish may not be (or may not attempt to be) sold, purchased, received, traded, bartered, transferred for, or intended for human consumption.
- Haddock and other regulated groundfish that are separated out from the herring catch by dealers/processors may not be (or may not attempt to be) sold, purchased, received, traded, bartered, or transferred for any purpose.
- The vessel must submit a pre-trip notification to NOAA Fisheries at least 48 hrs prior to beginning a trip if:
- The vessel is issued a Category A or B herring permit and is fishing on a declared herring trip; or
- The vessel is issued a Category C, D, or E herring permit and is fishing with midwater trawl gear in Herring Management Area 1A, 1B, or 3.
- The vessel must submit a pre-landing notification to NOAA Fisheries at least 6 hrs prior to landing (or as soon as the vessel stops catching fish, if fishing ends less than 6 hrs before landing), if:
- The vessel is issued a Category A or B herring permit and is fishing on a declared herring trip with midwater trawl gear; or
- The vessel is issued a Category C or E herring permit and is fishing with midwater trawl gear in Herring Management Area 1A, 1B, or 3.
Purse Seine Gear Exempted Fishery
Vessels may fish with purse seine gear equipped with mesh smaller than the applicable minimum size, as long as they meet the following conditions:
- The vessel fishes exclusively with purse seine gear.
- The vessel carries an observer, if requested by the Regional Administrator.
- When fishing in the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank Exemption Area:
- The vessel is issued an LOA (minimum 7-day duration).
- The vessel only fishes for, possesses, or lands Atlantic herring, blueback herring, mackerel, or menhaden.
- The vessel does not fish for, possess, or land groundfish, except:
- A vessel issued a Category A or B herring permit fishing on a declared herring trip may possess and land haddock and other regulated groundfish, consistent with the applicable catch caps and possession restrictions. Haddock that has been brought or pumped into the hold may not be discarded.
- Such haddock and other regulated groundfish may not be (or may not attempt to be) sold, purchased, received, traded, bartered, transferred for, or intended for human consumption.
- Haddock and other regulated groundfish that are separated out from the herring catch by dealers/processors may not be (or may not attempt to be) sold, purchased, received, traded, bartered, or transferred for any purpose.
- The vessel must submit a pre-trip notification to NOAA Fisheries at least 48 hrs prior to beginning a trip if the vessel is issued a Category A or B herring permit.
- The vessel must submit a pre-landing notification to NOAA Fisheries at least 6 hrs prior to landing (or as soon as the vessel stops catching fish, if fishing ends less than 6 hrs before landing), if the vessel is issued a Category A or B herring permit.
Southern New England Exemption Area
Vessels may fish for, harvest, possess, or land Atlantic mackerel (as well as certain other species) using nets equipped with mesh smaller than the applicable minimum size in the Georges Bank or Southern New England RMAs when fishing in the Southern New England Exemption Area, provided they comply with all applicable gear stowage requirements and possession restrictions.
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