Atlantic Mackerel

Atlantic mackerel is one of the most important and commercially valuable pelagic fish species in the North Atlantic. Thanks to its high fat content, it is a first choice for smokers, producers of marinated “saba”-style products, and high-end canners.

After spawning in the Bay of Biscay and west of Ireland in March, mackerel migrates towards the feeding grounds around Iceland from June to August, marking the start of the commercial fishing season. Then the migration continues to the Norwegian coast in September, where they are fished until the end of October. Later in the season, the stock moves towards the area around the British Isles, where it is widely harvested by the United Kingdom, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Ireland, and the Faroe Islands until the end of January.

The average commercial size is around 300-500 grams, or approximately 30-45 cm in length. The main fishing nations are Norway, Iceland, the United Kingdom, and the Faroe Islands, with additional important catches taken by EU fleets and Russia.