King Mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla)

• King mackerel populations are high and overfishing is not occurring.
• The commercial fishery for king mackerel in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic has been managed under a limited access system since 1998. In the Gulf of Mexico, the for-hire fishery also operates under a limited access system that caps participation at the 2004 level. These actions are intended to provide for long-term stability of the fisheries and resource.
• King mackerel is low in fat and is a very good source of protein, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B12, and selenium. King mackerel may contain amounts of methylmercury in excess of the FDA's recommended limit for moms, moms-to-be, and young children. For more information, see EPA and FDA advice on what you need to know about mercury in fish and shellfish.
• King mackerel domestic landings were valued at just over $8.7 million in 2006.

Sustainability Status

Biomass: Atlantic king mackerel biomass is 22% above the level needed to support maximum sustainable yield (B_MSY). Gulf king mackerel is 93% of B_MSY.
Overfishing: No
Overfished: No
Fishing and habitat: 90% of king mackerel is caught with hook and line, which has few impacts on habitat.
Bycatch: 90% of king mackerel is caught with hook and line, which has low bycatch rates.
Aquaculture: There is currently no commercial aquaculture of king mackerel in the U.S.

Science and Management

In the Southeast United States, king mackerel is managed under the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Region. The species is jointly managed by the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Councils, with the latter having the administrative lead. Specified as a single stock, all king mackerel in the Southeast Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico were initially managed the same, but since 1985, fisheries managers have managed two separate migratory groups, Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. The FMP was originally enacted in 1982 to better tailor management to the fishery. King mackerel are managed through Total Allowable Catch (TAC) calculated for each migratory group and allocated to various user groups according to FMP requirements. Commercial fisheries are typically managed through quotas, possession and trip limits, size limits, and seasonal closures. Recreational management measures include possession limits and size limits. Limited entry restrictions are in effect for commercial, charter, and headboat fisheries in the Gulf. Commercial king mackerel fisheries in the Atlantic are also under a limited entry program. Modifications, limits, closures, and other regulatory measures are addressed and documented through regulatory amendments.

Life History and Habitat

Life history, including information on the habitat, growth, feeding, and reproduction of a species, is important because it affects how a fishery is managed. For example, knowing that king mackerels have an affinity for warm water and are voracious feeders, managers have determined that there are two migratory groups of king mackerel that base their movements on water temperature and availability of food.

• Geographic range: In the Atlantic Ocean from Massachusetts to Brazil; also in the Gulf of Mexico
• Habitat: King mackerel are a "coastal pelagic" species, meaning they live in the open waters near the coast. They are found at depths of 115 to 591 feet.
• Life span: Over 20 years is rare but has been documented
• Food: King mackerel are voracious feeders that may be seen leaping out of water in pursuit of prey. Juvenile king mackerel prey on larval fish; adults prey on fish, squid, and shrimp.
• Growth rate: Relatively fast growing
• Maximum size: 5.5 feet, 100 pounds
• Reaches reproductive maturity: At 2 years
• Reproduction: Females may shed 50,000 to several million eggs, depending on the size of the fish. Eggs are scattered in the open water and fertilized externally.
• Spawning season: May through October
• Spawning grounds: Outer continental shelf
• Migrations: King mackerel migrate to the northern part of their range in the summer and to the southern part in the winter. Migrations are based on water temperature and availability of food. King mackerel also form large schools.
• Predators: Predators targeting smaller king mackerel include juvenile and larger pelagic fishes; predators targeting adults include bottlenose dolphin and larger fish such as sharks and tuna.
• Commercial or recreational interest: Both
• Distinguishing characteristics: King mackerel are iron-gray on the back and silvery on their sides and belly. They have pale to dusky fins.

Role in the Ecosystem

King mackerels are mid-level pelagic carnivores, preying on fish, squid, and shrimp.

Additional Information

Market name: King mackerel
Vernacular names: Cavalla, Cero, Sierra
Spanish mackerel is also the market name for Cero (Scomberomorus regalis). Vernacular names for Cero include Painted mackerel, Kingfish, Pintado, Sierra, and King mackerel.

Biomass

Biomass refers to the amount of king mackerel in the ocean. Scientists cannot collect and weigh every singe king mackerel to determine biomass, so they use models to estimate it instead. These biomass estimates can help determine if a stock is being fished too heavily or if it may be able to tolerate more fishing pressure. Managers can then make appropriate changes in the regulations of the fishery. In the 1980s, fisheries managers concluded king mackerel biomass was below the desired levels; stricter management followed. Biomass has risen for both the Atlantic and Gulf king mackerel stocks since the early 1990s.

Landings

Landings refer to the amount of catch that is brought to land. There is an interest in both recreational and commercial fishing for king mackerel. This fishery demonstrates the need for good record keeping and data collection in both commercial and recreational operations, as they both have strong participation in the fishery.

Biomass and Landings

Are landings and biomass related? Landings are dependent on biomass, management measures in the fishery, and fishing effort.

Data sources:
Biomass and landings from NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Southeast Fisheries Science Center Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review - SEDAR 5 South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico King Mackerel

Important Dates

Late 1880s to early 1900s – Domestic king mackerel commercial fishery begins
1950-60s – Recreational fishery begins
1982 – Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources implemented
1985 – Amendment 1 provides framework for adjustment of total allowable catch (TAC), revises maximum sustainable yield (MSY), recognizes separate Atlantic and Gulf migratory groups, establishes fishing permits and bag limits, and eliminates commercial allocations among gear users
1986 – Size and bag limit regulations introduced to reduce fishing pressure from the recreational sector
1989 – Amendment 3 prohibits use of drift gill nets for Gulf king mackerel
1990 – Amendment 5 significantly revises the FMP; changes include extending management area for the Atlantic group of mackerels through the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's area of jurisdiction, revising problems in the fishery and plan objectives, revising the definition of overfishing, and establishing a minimum size of 12-inch fork length (FL) or 14-inch total length (TL) for king mackerel.
1992 – Amendment 6 provides for rebuilding overfished stocks of mackerels within specific periods and more seasonal adjustment actions, including size limits, vessel trip limits, closed seasons or areas, and gear restrictions; changes minimum size limit for king mackerel to 20 inches FL and all size limit measures to fork length only
1996 – Amendment 8 establishes a moratorium on the issuance of commercial vessel permits for king mackerel and allows retention of up to five cutoff, or damaged, king mackerel in excess of an applicable commercial trip limit
1998 – Amendment 10 designates Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) and EFH-Habitat Areas of Particular Concern for coastal migratory pelagics
1999 – Amendment 12 extends moratorium on commercial king mackerel permits from 2000 until 2005
2002 – Amendment 13 establishes two marine reserves in the Gulf of Mexico, Tortugas North and Tortugas South, where fishing for coastal migratory pelagic species is prohibited
2002 – Amendment 14 establishes a moratorium on Gulf king mackerel permits for charter vessels (small boats rented out by recreational fishermen) and headboats (larger boats for recreational fishing trips)
2005 – Amendment 15 establishes an indefinite limited access program for king mackerel

Notes and Links

General Information:
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council King Mackerel Species Identification and Summary of Regulations

Fishery Management:
Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources (1982) and Amendments

Stock Assessments:
NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review - SEDAR 5 South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico King Mackerel