Scomber Japonicus
Family
Scombridae (Mackerels, tunas, bonitos)
Order
Perciformes (perch-likes)
Class
Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Maximum Size
64.0 cm TL (male/unsexed); max. published weight: 2,900 g; max. reported age: 18 years
Environment
Pelagic; oceanodromous; marine ; depth range 0 - 300 m
Climate
Subtropical; 10 - 27°C; 60°N - 55°S, 180°W - 180°E
Importance
fisheries: highly commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes; bait: usually
Resiliance
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.12-0.22; tm=2-3; tmax=18)
Distribution
Circumglobal, east coast of America from Nova Scotia, Canada to east Argentina. Indo-Pacific distribution for the chub mackerel Scomber japonicus; while Scomber colias is found in the Atlantic. Scomber japonicus is apparently absent from Indonesia and Australia and is replaced by Scomber australasicus.
Diagnosis
Dorsal spines (total): 9-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-12; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 12-14; Vertebrae: 31-31. Interpelvic process small and single. No well developed corselet. Swim bladder present. First haemal spine posterior to first interneural process; 12 to 15 interneural bones under first dorsal fin. Anal fin spine conspicuous, clearly separated from anal rays but joined to them by a membrane. Back with narrow stripes which zigzag and undulate. Belly unmarked (Pacific population) or with wavy lines (Atlantic pop.).
Biology
A coastal pelagic species, to a lesser extent epipelagic to mesopelagic over the continental slope. Schooling by size is well developed and initiates at approximately 3 cm; may also form schools with Sarda chiliensis, Trachurus symmetricus and Sardinops sagax. Stays near the bottom during the day; goes up to the open water at night, where it feeds on copepods and other crustaceans, fishes and squids. In Asian waters, it is said to move to deeper water and remain inactive during the winter season. Commercially cultured in Japan. Marketed fresh, frozen, smoked, salted and occasionally canned
