FI R/S 157 Scomber japoliicus I~I PREPARATION OF THlS SYNOPSIS The chub mackerel Scor~lberjnponicus is a very important species in commercial and artisanal fisheries throughout the world. Although it is heavily fished and detailed fishery information is available, this is the first time biological data and fishery information is brought together by the authors in a single edition. As quantita- tive and qualitative information of various aspects of the biology, ecology, stocks and utilization of the chub mackerel is widely scattered in the literature, this synopsis was undertaken to fill the need for comprised and de- tailed information on this important scombrid to help !o improve the knowledge about this species and to maintain it as an important food resource for human consumption. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors wish to thank Professor Carlos Bas for the scientific support that he gave us during his stance in the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Thanks are also given to Dr Beatriz Morales-Nin, Consejo Su- perior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Mallorca, Dr Enric Massutí, Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Mallorca and Dr Pere Oliver of FAO, Rorne, ltaly for their valuable suggestions. We would like to emphasize the important collaboration and comments of the staff of the FA0 Fisheries Department during the editjon of this synopsis. Project Manager: P. Oliver (FAO, Rome). Technical Editors: R. Bonfil (University of British Columbia, Canada), J. Minow (FAO, Rome). Illustrators: P. Lastrico, E. D'Antoni (FAO, Rorne) and J. Varela. Page Composition: ~.'~autenber~er (FAO, Rorne). 3 Maps: F. Carocci (FAO, Rome). - 0 m Contact Address: Tel: 34 928454549; Fax: 34 928452922; E-mail: josejuan.castro@biologia.ulpgc.es O 4 Castro Hernández, J.J.; Santana Ortega, A.T. Synopsis of biological data on the chub mackerel (Scomberjnponicus Houttuyn, 1782). FA0 Fisheries Synopsis. No. 157. Rome, FAO. 2000. 77p. ABSTRACT Chub mackerel (Sco~nberjaporzicus) is a pelagic species that inhabits warm and temperate coastal waters of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. Chub mackerel undertakes consider- able seasonal migrations between feeding and spawning areas. This species reaches its fastest growth in length (between 35.4 and 62.6% of the maxirnum length of the species in each area) during the first year of life. The maximum reported age is 18 years. Spawning is normally limited to the first half of the year in the northern hemisphere, and to the second half in the south- ern hemisphere, but spawning takes place al1 year round around the equator. Chub mackerel feed on zooplankton, although cephalopods and small pelagic fiches, especially anchovies and sardines, are also frequent in the diet. There is also evidence of cannibalism in this spe- cies. Chub mackerel are frequently preyed by tunas, marlins, sailfish, dolphin-fish, sharks, sea lions and sea birds. This species is of great importance for fisheries worldwide. In 1978, the chub mackerel ranked third in importance in catches by species (3.4 rnillion tons), while in 1979 and 1980 it ranked fourth and fifth, with 2.8 and 2.6 million tons, respectively. In 1966 this spe- cies ranked fifth with a worldwide catch of 2.1 million tons. It is mainly caught with purse seines, sometimes using light, and also by trolling, lines, gillnets, traps, beach seines and midwater trawls. Distribution: Authors FA0 Fisheries Officers Regional Fisheries Councils and Commissions Selector SC