South-west handline mackerel
Certified as sustainable in August 2001 and recertified in February 2007.
Summary
Species: Mackerel (Scomber scombrus)
Location: The fishery is located off the south west coast of England, from Start Point to Hartland Point within UK waters.
Fishing methods: Handline
Vessels: Around 150 small, vessels, under 10 metres.
Number of fisheries: 1
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Fishery Fact Sheet
Download the South West handline mackerel fishery fact sheet for A4 paper (pdf, 155kb)
Download the South West handline mackerel fishery fact sheet for US letter size paper (pdf, 144kb)
Do you source fish from this fishery?
Show your customers how the fish is caught – download and display this case study from our Net Benefits report.
Download Fishers' stories - Net Benefits 2009 - South-west handline mackerel (PDF, 200kb)
More about mackerel
Mackerel is a pelagic fish spending most of its time in mid-water travelling in large dense, shoals, often at great speed and making very long migrations. It is a voracious, opportunistic feeder and feeds mainly on zooplankton, but also on some small pelagic fish. As a result it is a very oily fish, building up high energy reserves during the spring and summer which it needs both for migration and subsequent gonad development during the following winter.
More about the fishing methods
The handline method uses either braided twine or strong nylon lines to which hooks are attached. Coloured plastic or feathers are attached to these hooks to attract fish and the line is weighted with lead. Each handline has 25-30 hooks.
Commercial market
The bulk of fish is sent to wholesalers around the UK who sell it to retailers and restaurants nation-wide. Some are also exported to the continent, particularly France and Italy.
