| Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Scombriformes |
| Family: | Scombridae |
| Genus: | Scomberomorus |
| Species: | S. commerson |
| Binomial name | |
| Scomberomorus commerson (Lacépède, 1800) | |
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| Synonyms | |
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Thenarrow-barred Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson) is amackerel of the familyScombridae found in a wide-ranging area inSoutheast Asia, but as far west as the east coast ofAfrica and from theMiddle East and along the northern coastal areas of theIndian Ocean, and as far east as theSouth West Pacific Ocean.[3]
They are vivid blue to dark grey in colour along their backs and flanks and fade to a silvery blue-grey on the belly. Spanish mackerel have scores of narrow, vertical lines down their sides. Spanish mackerel grow to about 200cm and up to 70kg.[3] They are the largest of all Australian mackerels.[4]
Scomberomorus commerson is found in a wide area centering in Southeast Asia, but as far west as the east coast of Africa and from thePersian Gulf and along the northern coastal areas of the Indian Ocean, and as far east asFiji in theSouth West Pacific ocean. The species is common down both sides ofAustralia as far south asPerth on the west coast andSydney on the east coast. It is also found as far north asChina and evenJapan.[3][5] Recorded first in theMediterranean Sea in 1935 offMandatory Palestine, it is now very common in the eastern Levant where it has become an important target species for local fisheries.[6]
Spanish mackerel spawn in oceanic conditions on reef edges. Eggs have a large oil droplet that aids inbuoyancy and keeps them at the top of the water column which is warmer, well oxygenated, and has anabundant planktonic food supply for the larvae once they are hatched. When in the larvalstage, Spanish mackerel are believed to stay in their own species-specific groups and are not normally found with other species of the same genus, such asS. semifasciatus andS. queenslandicus. This is not always the case with adult mackerel, where occasional mixing of different species within the same genus can occur.
Spawning is seasonal, but it is protracted in the warmer waters of the tropics. Many of the fisheries that target this species are based on prespawning feeding aggregations. A significant proportion of the female fish caught inNorthern Territory waters between July and December have either recently spawned or are close to spawning.[7] In general, spawning times for Spanish mackerel tend to be associated with higher water temperatures that promote optimal food availability for the rapid growth and development of the larvae.[8]
As the young larvae grow, they move from the offshore spawning grounds to inshore and estuarine habitats, where they are frequently found in the juvenile phase of their growth cycle. In the inshore environments, they feed mostly on the larvae and juveniles of small fish and crustaceans until they become large enough to eat small fish and squid.[9] Australian studies of this species suggest females are larger than males.[10][11][12] Female Spanish mackerel mature at about two years of age or around 80 cm in length.[13]
Spanish mackerel are voracious, opportunisticcarnivores. As with other members of the genus, food consists mainly of small fishes with lesser quantities ofshrimp andsquid.[14]
Spanish mackerel are highly valued fish throughout their range in the Indo-West Pacific. Recreational anglers catch them from boats whiletrolling or drifting and from boats, piers, jetties, and beaches by casting spoons and jigs, and live-baitfishing. Commercial methods are primarily run-aroundgillnetting, and rarely, by trolling lures similar to those used by recreational anglers.[3]
As of July 2023, theGovernment ofQueensland,Australia, cut the commercial catch limit from 578 tonnes (569 long tons; 637 short tons) to 165 tonnes (162 long tons; 182 short tons), a reduction to 27.5% of the earlier limit. The split was: 60% commercial; 40% recreational (1/person) but also includes charter boat fishing; Indigenous 2 tonnes/year limit across all allocations. This is intended to revitalise of the biomass over time.[16]
InPenghu,Taiwan the narrow-barred Spanish mackerel is highly valued and referred to as "white gold."[17] In 2022 an exceptional 34 kilo fish was sold for more than $3,000.[18] In Tainan it is used to make the dishtutuo yugeng (土魠魚羹, Spanish Mackerel thick soup).[17]
In 2023 the Taiwanese Fisheries Research Institute succeeded in artificially breeding narrow-barred Spanish mackerel.[19]
As with most fish, the narrow-barred Spanish mackerel is infected by a variety ofparasites. Spectacular parasites are the cysts of the larvae of thetrypanorhynch cestodeCallitetrarhynchus gracilis, often found in great numbers in the body cavity.[20]
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