Atka Mackerel Nesting Videos
Underwater videos taken in the nearshore areas of Finch Cove,
Alaska, document the behavior associated with courtship, spawning, and
nest guarding of Atka mackerel. The videos, taken by Bob Lauth and
Scott McEntire of the Center's Groundfish
Program, are the first to locate and characterize an Atka mackerel
nesting area in the U.S. EEZ. More information on the nesting study
can be found on the Groundfish Program's Quarterly
research report.
Please Note: The video clips provided on this page are optimally formatted
for viewing in a RealONE media player. If you do not already have the player
or the recent update, you can download
it for free from the RealOne website.
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Atka mackerel nesting ground near Finch Cove, Seguam Island in the Aleutian
Archipelago. Sexually mature males have a bright lemon-yellow coloration
and are close to the boulder-strewn bottom aggressively guarding their
individual nesting sites. Note the erect dorsal fin and arched back of
the two males in the foreground. Females have a steely blue-gray coloration
with distinct white blotches behind their heads and on their dorsum.
Females are circling overhead, presumably looking for a suitable male
and nesting site.
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Atka mackerel nesting site near Finch Cove, Seguam Island in the Aleutian
Archipelago. A gravid female Atka mackerel approaches a male’s
nest in the foreground. Another male in the background exhibits the “nose-dive
tailwag” behavior in an attempt to lure the female down to his
nest for spawning. The scene is replayed showing the tailwag behavior
in slow motion.
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Atka mackerel nesting site near Finch Cove, Seguam Island in the Aleutian
Archipelago. A male Atka mackerel tends his nesting site by clearing
away a green sea urchin. Males have been observed removing other marine
life including kelp, hydroids, sea stars, snails, and chitons.
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Atka mackerel nesting site near Finch Cove, Seguam Island in the Aleutian
Archipelago. A male Atka mackerel attracts a gravid female down to his
nest, corralling and prodding her to lay her eggs inside the nesting
territory. Notice how well the female blends in with the surrounding
environment.
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More underwater video is available on the RACE
website
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