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Images provided courtesy of a multi-partnered collaboration between the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (BFAR-NFRDI), Philippines

Island mackerel

A small true mackerel found across the Indo-Pacific region.

Photo: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The island mackerel is a small true mackerel belonging to the scombrid family, native to the Indo-Pacific. Although official food and agriculture records show no separate commercial catches, conservation groups note it is actively targeted by fishers alongside its close relatives.

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  • Belongs to the true mackerels in the scombrid family.
  • Reaches a maximum length of twenty centimetres.
  • Can weigh up to three-quarters of a kilogram.
  • Found across the broad waters of the Indo-Pacific.
  • Catches are grouped with other genus members in records.

What it is

This fish belongs to the true mackerels, which are part of the scombrid family. It is a relatively small marine species found across the broad waters of the Indo-Pacific region. Adults reach a maximum size of twenty centimetres and can weigh up to three-quarters of a kilogram. Like other members of its group, it possesses a streamlined body built for active swimming.

Where it lives

The known distribution of this species covers the Indo-Pacific. This vast area includes many tropical and subtropical marine environments. They live in the open ocean and coastal waters across this broad region. The exact depth preferences and specific temperature ranges they favour remain unrecorded in the provided text. They share this expansive marine territory with other members of their genus.

How it lives

Information regarding the daily behaviour and feeding habits of this species is currently unavailable. It is unknown what specific prey they hunt or how they form schools in the wild. They are known to be an active part of the marine food web, but their exact ecological role requires further study.

Breeding and life cycle

The reproductive habits of this mackerel are not detailed in the available information. There are no records describing when or where they spawn, the type of eggs they produce, or how the young develop after hatching. The growth rate from juvenile to the maximum size of twenty centimetres is also unrecorded. Understanding their breeding cycle would require dedicated biological surveys.

Island 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

This fish is caught as part of a targeted fishery. However, official food and agriculture records indicate there are no separate commercial landings reported specifically for this species. Instead, any catches are grouped together with other members of the same genus in the official statistics. Despite this lack of separate tracking, conservation groups note that fishers actively target it.

Status and threats

The exact conservation status of this species is not provided in the available text. While it is noted as a targeted fishery, the lack of separate catch data makes it difficult to assess population trends. Consequently, no formal protection measures or population recovery programmes are mentioned for this group.

Rastrelliger faughni (Island Mackerel) in a fish market, Mindanao, Philippines
Rastrelliger faughni (Island Mackerel) in a fish market, Mindanao, Philippines. Photo: Obsidian Soul, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Questions people ask about Island mackerel

What family does the island mackerel belong to?

It is a true mackerel that belongs to the scombrid family. This group includes many fast-swimming marine fish known for their streamlined bodies and importance in both commercial and recreational fishing across the world.

How large does this species get?

Adults of this species reach a maximum reported length of twenty centimetres. They can also weigh up to three-quarters of a kilogram when fully grown, making them a relatively small member of the mackerel group.

Are there specific commercial landings recorded for this fish?

Official food and agriculture records show no separate commercial landings for this specific species. Instead, any catches are grouped together with other members of the same genus in the official fishery statistics.

Where in the world can this fish be found?

This marine species inhabits the broad waters of the Indo-Pacific region. It shares this vast oceanic territory with many other types of fish, though its exact depth preferences and specific local habitats are not detailed.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Island 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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