The Atlantic Mackerel is often just known as the Mackerel and is related to the Tuna fish. Atlantic Mackerel swim in large groups called shoals and can mainly be seen in offshore waters around our coasts. They swim very fast together and often swim close to the surface.

The Atlantic Mackerel is a striking-looking fish that is torpedo-shaped. It has a grey-blue upper body with lots of irregular zigzag stripes on it. The underbelly is silver with tinges of gold and pink. It is a medium-sized fish that can grow up to seventy centimetres in length. It has two black eyes and behind each eye there is a small yellow patch. The Atlantic Mackerel has two fins on its back which are widely spaced apart. It has small scales over its body and its skin feels quite velvety.

Young Atlantic Mackerel mainly feed on small crustaceans called ‘copepods’ which are part of zooplankton. Older Mackerel eat fish, squid and shrimp. Antlantic Mackerel can live up to seventeen years, but nowadays they very rarely reach old age because they are often caught in large numbers. They are now very popular commercial food fish.