Aquaculture

Atlantic Mackerel Welfare in Capture Fisheries

Atlantic mackerel is one of Europe's most important commercial fish species, and welfare in its capture and handling has received increasing research and policy attention.

Key Facts

Atlantic mackerel is a schooling pelagic species caught primarily by purse seine and pelagic trawl
UK and Norwegian mackerel fisheries are among the largest in the Northeast Atlantic
Mackerel are air-breathed involuntarily when crowded at the surface during hauling
Crowding stress and CO2 accumulation cause welfare impacts during the purse seine hauling process

Welfare Considerations

Mackerel experience acute welfare impacts during capture including crowding in nets, scale loss from physical contact, exposure to air, and slow death by asphyxiation in fish holds. RSW (refrigerated sea water) chilling can reduce welfare impacts compared to ice-only storage. Rapid chilling in slurry ice after capture is the most welfare-friendly current option for wild-caught mackerel.

What You Can Do

Choose mackerel certified under responsible fishing standards
Support research into rapid chilling and improved stunning for pelagic species
Advocate for welfare consideration in EU pelagic fisheries management
Support fishing industry initiatives to reduce time between capture and chilling