YOUR SUSTAINABLE FISH CHOICE
Mackerel
Scientific name: Scomber scombrus
Background
Mackerel is a fast-swimming fish that has undergone an
incredible transformation from being of not much interest
to the Scottish fishing fleet prior to the 1970s to the current
position of being Scotland’s highest value and volume catch.
In 2014, 239,500 tonnes were landed by the Scottish fleet,
with a value of £195m.
In the 1980s and early 1990s much of the Scottish mackerel
catch was sold direct to Eastern European factory ships
(klondykers) anchored off the coast. But in more recent
times mackerel has become a much sought after fish in the
global marketplace and modern state-of-the-art processing
plants in Shetland and the north-east of Scotland now
handle the majority of the catch.
Photo courtesy of David Linkie ©
Sustainability
In the Kitchen
Mackerel is the ultimate sustainable fish. Stocks in the
north-east Atlantic are at very high levels, thanks in part to
the conservation initiatives adopted by Scotland’s mackerel
fishermen. The sector is carefully regulated and the fishery
is a very clean one, with very little bycatch of other species.
A special steering group was established in 2007 by the
Scottish fishing industry to take forward a number of
sustainability initiatives.
Mackerel is such a versatile and tasty fish, and the
firm flesh is rich in healthy omega 3 fatty acids. Fresh
mackerel can be grilled, fried, or barbecued and is perfect
for stuffing and oven-baking. It works well with strong,
spicy flavours and a touch of acidity - mackerel served
with gooseberry sauce is a traditional dish. Hot smoked
mackerel also tastes great and is ideal for making pâté.
Canned mackerel makes an excellent sandwich filler.
Mackerel, flavoured with
spices and lemon
Did you know?
Scottish mackerel vessels use hand lines or smallscale jigging machines to take a sample from a
shoal to determine the size of the fish before shooting their nets. By doing this the fishermen prevent
the capture of small, unmarketable fish, ensuring
that only the targeted size are taken.
Fascinating fact
Mackerel don’t have swim bladders, so when
chased by predators such as dolphins or sharks,
they can dive to considerable depths so as to
escape.
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www.sff.co.uk