Atlantic chub mackerel (''Scomber colias''), also known as Tinker mackerel, is a pelagic schooling species of

mackerel Mackerel is a common name applied to a number of different species of pelagic fish, mostly from the family Scombridae. They are found in both temperate and tropical seas, mostly living along the coast or offshore in the oceanic environment. ...

found in the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Black Sea. It was originally thought to be a subspecies of the chub mackerel ''

Scomber japonicus colias Atlantic chub mackerel (''Scomber colias''), also known as Tinker mackerel, is a pelagic schooling species of mackerel found in the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Black Sea. It was originally thought to be a subspecies of the chub ...

''.

Description

The Atlantic chub mackerel is a long, streamlined fish with a deeply forked tail, is all covered with very small fish scale. The first dorsal fin has 9 or 10 spines and is separated from the second dorsal fin by a space at least as long as its base. The origin of the anal fin is directly below or just behind the origin of the second dorsal fin. This fish is silvery in colour, the upper surface has oblique zigzagging lines while the belly is paler and spotted or marked with wavy lines.

Ecology

Atlantic chub mackerel and other members of the genus

Auxis ''Auxis'' is a genus of ocean-dwelling ray-finned bony fish in the family Scombridae, and tribe Thunnini, also known as the tunas. ''Auxis'', commonly and collectively called the frigate tunas, is one of five genera of tunas which comprise ...

are important pelagic forage species.

Fisheries

This fish is particularly abundant in the eastern Mediterranean. Two variants are distinguished: in the late summer and autumn, the fish is fat and roe-filled, whereas in the late winter and spring it is very lean, almost emaciated. The Greek names for the two forms are ''koliós'' and ''tsíros'', respectively. They are usually roasted, although the former form is often packed in salt for later consumption. The fish releases its own oil into the salt packing and acquires a very long shelf life. In the islands of the Aegean, it is a particularly popular delicacy, under the name ''goúna'': fresh-caught mackerel is split open at the belly, eviscerated, and left to

dry Dry or dryness most often refers to: * Lack of rainfall, which may refer to ** Arid regions ** Drought * Dry or dry area, relating to legal prohibition of selling, serving, or imbibing alcoholic beverages * Dry humor, deadpan * Dryness (medica ...

flesh-side up in the sun for one day. The same evening it is very briefly seared over a fire and then served with lemon juice. Along the eastern seaboard of North America Atlantic chub mackerel were not the target of directed commercial fisheries until 2013 when commercial trawlers began targeting them because of a lack of squid. Landings went from almost zero to 5m pounds within the year.

Status

This fish has a wide range and is abundant over parts of that range. Although it is heavily fished in places, the population seems relatively stable and the

IUCN The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...

has listed this species as Least Concern.

References

Links

''Scomber colias'' at FishBase

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1934719 Atlantic chub mackerel Fish of the Atlantic Ocean Fish of the Mediterranean Sea Fish of the Black Sea Atlantic chub mackerel Atlantic chub mackerel