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EveryFish
Scomber colias, specimen photographed in Liguria, Italy

Atlantic chub mackerel

A small, silvery mackerel found in the Atlantic and Mediterranean.

Photo: Etrusko25, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Atlantic chub mackerel is a schooling fish native to the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Black Sea. It serves as a key food source for larger predators and supports commercial fisheries, particularly in Greece and North America.

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  • Found in Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Black Seas
  • Rich in omega-3 fatty acids like EPA and DHA
  • Greek delicacy known as goúna when dried and seared
  • US landings jumped to 5 million pounds in 2013
  • Fat content varies from 1.3g to 10.3g per 100g

What it is

This streamlined fish features a deeply forked tail and tiny scales covering its body. Its first dorsal fin contains nine or ten spines and sits apart from the second dorsal fin by a gap equal to or longer than the fin base. The anal fin begins directly beneath or slightly behind the second dorsal fin. The upper body displays silvery hues with zigzagging oblique lines, while the paler belly shows spots or wavy marks.

Where it lives

Populations inhabit the Atlantic Ocean, extending into the Mediterranean and Black Seas. They thrive in pelagic zones, often forming large schools. In the eastern Mediterranean, these fish are especially plentiful. Along the North American east coast, they have become more prominent in recent years as commercial interest shifted toward them.

How it lives

As a pelagic forage species, this mackerel plays a vital role in the marine food web. It moves in schools, providing sustenance for larger predators. The fish exhibits seasonal changes in body condition, becoming fatty in late summer and lean during winter months. This cycle affects its nutritional profile and availability for other marine life.

Atlantic chub mackerel
A drawing made by EveryFish from what this page says. It is a diagram, not a picture of the real fish.

Fish and people

Fishers in Greece distinguish between fat autumn catches called koliós and lean spring ones known as tsíros. Locals often roast the fish or pack the fatty variety in salt, allowing it to release oil and preserve well. In the Aegean islands, people prepare goúna by splitting, drying, and briefly searing fresh catches. North American trawlers began targeting this species in 2013 due to squid shortages, landing millions of pounds quickly.

Status and threats

The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists this species as Least Concern. Its wide distribution and abundance contribute to this stable status. Although heavy fishing occurs in certain areas, overall populations remain resilient. Continued monitoring helps ensure sustainable harvest levels across its range.

Questions people ask about Atlantic chub mackerel

Where does the Atlantic chub mackerel live?

This species inhabits the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Black Sea. It lives in pelagic waters, often forming large schools near coasts and in open ocean areas.

Why did US fishing for this mackerel increase in 2013?

Commercial trawlers began targeting Atlantic chub mackerel along the eastern seaboard because of a shortage of squid. Landings rose from nearly zero to five million pounds within that year.

How is this fish prepared in Greece?

Greeks call the fat autumn form koliós and the lean spring form tsíros. They often roast it or salt-pack the fatty version. In the Aegean, they make goúna by drying and searing fresh fish.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Atlantic chub mackerel", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.

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Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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