More information

Atlantic horse mackerel

Quality mark Cultivation
/Keurmerk Wild
Green
Second choice
Avoid
Welzijn
Informatie over vissoort
Lees meer
General

Mackerel-like fish

Mackerel-like (Scrombodei) from a subspecies of the Perciformes, the biggest order of fish. Mackerel (Atlantic-, horse mackerel etc), tuna, swordfish and barracudas all fall among the mackerel-like fish. Globally it is a very popular fish and forms an important source of food and income for many people. Mackerel are pelagic fish that live in large schools. While swimming in large schools, mackerel-like fish confuse their predators with the silver-like brilliance from their scales. Island mackerel is the smallest with 2o cm, the largest is the bluefin tuna that can reach a size of over 5 meters.

Atlantic horse mackerel

The Atlantic horse mackerel can be found in the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. The horse mackerel is a predator that swims in large groups. This fish can reach lengths of up to 70 cm and is often unintentionally caught in fisheries for mackerel. However, there is a fishery that specifically targets Atlantic horse mackerel.

 

Atlantic horse mackerel

Trachurus trachurus
Origin

Atlantic Ocean, north-east (FAO 27)
Deelgebieden: Norwegian Sea

Farming- / Catch method

Midwater otter trawl

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
Fish stocks and fishing pressure
Ecosystem effects
Fishery management
Final assessment
Explanation assessment

The western horse mackerel stock is declining and is probably overfishedOverfished:
A stock is overfished when the stock size has decreased so far that it can no longer produce a maximum sustainable yield. The size of the fish populations is insufficient to reproduce in the long term. 
.

The fishery with [midwater otter trawls] is quite selective, because horse mackerel swims in schools high in the [water column]: there is little bycatch of other species. There is no interaction with the seafloor. Horse mackerel is considered to be one of the most important predatory fish in the North Sea. It has possibly an impact on ecosystem via the [food chain].

Horse mackerel is managed with [catch limits]. In 2007 a management plan has been made by the pelagicPelagic:
In the water column.
RAC (Regional Advisory Council). This plan is being used since 2008 in determining the TAC (Total Allowable Catch)

 

Atlantic horse mackerel

Trachurus trachurus
Origin

Atlantic Ocean, north-east (FAO 27)
Deelgebieden: Skagerrak and Kattegat

Farming- / Catch method

Midwater otter trawl

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
Fish stocks and fishing pressure
Ecosystem effects
Fishery management
Final assessment
Explanation assessment

The state of the North Sea stock of Atlantic horse mackerel is unknown. There are insufficient reliable data (e.g. biological and [discard] data) to do a proper stock assessment. The stock declined for the past years, and appears to be stabilized on that level. The fishing pressure on this species declined, the effects thereof are not yet seen.

The fishery with [midwater otter trawls] is quite selective, because horse mackerel swims in schools high in the [water column]: there is little bycatch of other species. There is no interaction with the seafloor. Horse mackerel is considered to be one of the most important predatory fish in the North Sea. It has possibly an impact on ecosystem via the [food chain].

Horse mackerel is managed with [catch limits]. In 2007 a management plan has been made by the pelagicPelagic:
In the water column.
RAC (Regional Advisory Council). This plan is being used since 2008 in determining the TAC (Total Allowable Catch)

 

 

ASC label

Fish with the ASC label is farmed in a sustainable manner.

MSC label

Fish with the MSC label is caught sustainably.

Good fish

This fish is not being overfished or is being responsibly farmed, with minimal impact on the environment.

Second choice

This fish is a second choice. There are still some improvements to be made in this fishery or fish farm.

Avoid

Do not buy this fish. It's being overfished or the way it's farmed or caught has a negative impact on the environment.

Welfare

There is fish available of this species that is farmed or caught using high welfare standards.

GlobalG.A.P.

GlobalG.A.P. certified farms are doing a step in the right direction in terms of sustainability. A few species with this label are getting a better score on the VISwijzer.

Organic

Organic standards are the strictest when it comes to fish feed. They also require certain measures for animal well-being.