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Mackerel Line Catch Value
Key Findings
- In the waters off Aberdeenshire, Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) form part of the migratory pelagic fish community of the northeast North Sea and adjacent northeast Atlantic. Mackerel are schooling, fast-swimming fish that spawn offshore in spring and early summer before moving into coastal and shelf waters to feed on plankton and small fish, making them a predictable target for inshore fishing. While most commercial mackerel landings in Scotland are taken by midwater trawlers, there is also a small hand-line mackerel fishery around Fraserburgh and nearby harbours, where smaller boats use lines and hooks to selectively target schooling fish. This method is valued for its lower environmental impact and higher quality product compared with large-scale trawl catches, and the northeast Grampian coast near Aberdeen is recognised as an important area for line-caught mackerel. Hook-and-line fishing seasons typically run from late spring into autumn when mackerel shoals move inshore.
- In terms of catch volumes, while mackerel is the most landed species by Scottish vessels overall — around 193,000 tonnes were landed in 2024, more than any other fish by weight — most of this comes from larger commercial pelagic fleets rather than handline-only boats. 'Scottish Government'. The hand-line sector contributes a relatively tiny fraction of total mackerel landings but often achieves good catch rates where local shoals are present and can fetch higher prices due to perceived quality. 'stateofthecoast.scot' Ecologically, mackerel stocks have been subject to concern, with scientific advice suggesting significant reductions in catch levels may be needed to safeguard stocks in the northeast Atlantic, reflecting pressures from high overall catches across nations and environmental change.
- Mackerel are also caught by the inshore creal fishing industry to be used as bait.
Linked Information Sheets
Key sources of Information
Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics 2024
Marine Scotland (September 2022) Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics 2021
NMPi Marine Scotland - National Marine Plan Interactive (atkinsgeospatial.com)
Inshore Fishing - ScotMap (2013) - Mackerel Lines - Monetary Value (£)
Reviewed on/by
23/08/23 by Ian Hay
08/01/2024 by Ian Hay
05/03/2025 by Charlotte Tomlinson
06/03/2025 by Ian Hay
08/01/2026 by Corinne Meinert
08/01/2026 by Ian Hay
Status
Live - next update 06/03/2027
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Contact us
Telephone: 07971149117
E-mail: ian.hay@stateofthecoast.scot