Atlantic mackerel are caught in huge quantities and are among the most sentient of commonly consumed fish, yet almost no consideration of their welfare occurs during capture or slaughter.
Mackerel captured in midwater trawls experience compression, fighting and physical injury as nets are hauled. Transferred to deck or holding tanks, they die by asphyxiation, a prolonged process causing significant suffering. As highly active pelagic fish with sophisticated schooling behaviour, they likely experience stress acutely. The welfare of commercially caught mackerel represents one of the largest single sources of fish suffering globally.