Scientific Name
Scomber japonicus

Common Name
Chub mackerel

Biology
A coastal pelagic species, to a lesser extent epipelagic to mesopelagic over the continental slope (Ref. 168). Schooling by size is well developed and initiates at approximately 3 cm (Ref. 168); may also form schools with Sarda chiliensis, Trachurus symmetricus and Sardinops sagax (Ref. 9340). Adults stay near the bottom during the day; go up to the open water at night, (Ref. 5377) where they feed on copepods and other crustaceans, fishes and squids (Ref. 168). They spawn in batches (Ref. 51846). Eggs and larvae are pelagic (Ref. 6769). In Asian waters, they move to deeper water and remain inactive during the winter season (Ref. 4576). Commercially cultured in Japan. Marketed fresh, frozen, smoked, salted and occasionally canned (Ref. 9684). Eaten fried, broiled and baked (Ref. 9988). Used in Chinese medicine (Ref. 12166).

Classification

Classified By

Houttuyn, 1782

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Mackerels, tunas, bonitos (Scombridae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-Pacific

Distribution

Indo-Pacific: anti-tropical, absent from the Indian Ocean except for South Africa, KZN to Western Cape (58304). Replaced by Scomber colias Gmelin 1789 in the Atlantic. Scomber australasicus is found in the Red Sea and the nothern Indian Ocean, its distribution overlaps with that of Scomber japonicus (Ref. 9684).

Range

60°N - 55°S, 180°W - 180°E

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

10 °C

Water Temperature To

27 °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

300 m

Zone

pelagic-neritic

Environment

Marine; pelagic-neritic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 0 - 300 m (Ref. 168), usually 50 - 200 m (Ref. 35185)

Trophic Level

3.09 s.e. 0.43 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

64.0 cm

Common Length

30.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5625 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: highly commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes; bait: usually

Vulnerability

Moderate to high vulnerability (46 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.12-0.22; tm=2-3; tmax=18)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated