Cero Mackerel

Scomberomorous regalis

Sometimes known as Painted Mackerel.

This species is wild-caught.

Summary

Cero Mackerel inhabit coastal waters from New England to Brazil, however they are primarily associated with reefs off South Florida and throughout the Caribbean. A small directed commercial fishery for Cero Mackerel exists in U.S. waters, but most Cero Mackerel in the U.S. market are caught incidentally in other fisheries. Little is known about the status of Cero Mackerel in U.S. waters or in the Caribbean, where catches are high.

Criterion	Points
Life History	3.00
Abundance	2.00
Habitat Quality and Fishing Gear Impacts	3.50
Management	1.25
Bycatch	2.25
Final Score (average of criteria)	2.40
Color

Final Score	Color
2.60 - 4.00
2.20 - 2.59
1.80 - 2.19
1.40 - 1.79
0.00 - 1.39

Last updated May 5, 2006.

Life History

Core Points (only one selection allowed)

If a value for intrinsic rate of increase (‘r’) is known, assign the score below based on this value. If no r-value is available, assign the score below for the correct age at 50% maturity for females if specified, or for the correct value of growth rate ('k'). If no estimates of r, age at 50% maturity, or k are available, assign the score below based on maximum age.

1.00	Intrinsic rate of increase <0.05; OR age at 50% maturity >10 years; OR growth rate <0.15; OR maximum age >30 years.
2.00	Intrinsic rate of increase = 0.05-0.15; OR age at 50% maturity = 5-10 years; OR a growth rate = 0.16–0.30; OR maximum age = 11-30 years.
3.00	Intrinsic rate of increase >0.16; OR age at 50% maturity = 1-5 years; OR growth rate >0.30; OR maximum age <11 years. Intrinsic rate of increase and age at 50% maturity are unknown (DeVries, pers. comm., 2006). Researchers have documented individuals spawning between the ages of 1 and 5 years (Finucane and Collins 1984). Maximum age of Cero Mackerel is unknown.

Points of Adjustment (multiple selections allowed)

-0.25	Species has special behaviors that make it especially vulnerable to fishing pressure (e.g., spawning aggregations; site fidelity; segregation by sex; migratory bottlenecks; unusual attraction to gear; etc.).
-0.25	Species has a strategy for sexual development that makes it especially vulnerable to fishing pressure (e.g., age at 50% maturity >20 years; sequential hermaphrodites; extremely low fecundity).
-0.25	Species has a small or restricted range (e.g., endemism; numerous evolutionarily significant units; restricted to one coastline; e.g., American lobster; striped bass; endemic reef fishes). Cero Mackerel inhabit coastal waters from New York to Brazil and in the Gulf of Mexico. They are primarily concentrated off South Florida and throughout the Caribbean (GMFMC and SAFMC 2002a; Turner and Brooks 2002; SMSFP 2005).
-0.25	Species exhibits high natural population variability driven by broad–scale environmental change (e.g., El Nino; decadal oscillations). Fluctuations in recreational catches of Cero Mackerel suggest that their abundance may be influenced by broad-scale environmental cycles (GMFMC and SAFMC 2002b; Turner and Brooks 2002). We chose to not subtract here, however, because much more research is required to determine the extent of environmental influence on Cero Mackerel distribution and population size (GMFMC and SAFMC 2002a).

+0.25	Species does not have special behaviors that increase ease or population consequences of capture OR has special behaviors that make it less vulnerable to fishing pressure (e.g., species is widely dispersed during spawning).
+0.25	Species has a strategy for sexual development that makes it especially resilient to fishing pressure (e.g., age at 50% maturity <1 year; extremely high fecundity). Cero Mackerel are highly fecund and spawn repeatedly throughout the year. Peak spawning occurs in summer months (Finucane and Collins 1984; DeVries, pers. comm., 2006).
+0.25	Species is distributed over a very wide range (e.g., throughout an entire hemisphere or ocean basin; e.g., swordfish; tuna; Patagonian toothfish).
+0.25	Species does not exhibit high natural population variability driven by broad-scale environmental change (e.g., El Nino; decadal oscillations).

3.00	Points for Life History

Abundance

Core Points (only one selection allowed)

Compared to natural or un-fished level, the species population is:

1.00

Low: Abundance or biomass is <75% of BMSY or similar proxy (e.g., spawning potential ratio).

2.00

Medium: Abundance or biomass is 75–125% of BMSY or similar proxy; OR population is approaching or recovering from an overfished condition; OR adequate information on abundance or biomass is not available.

Information on the abundance of Cero Mackerel is limited. A recent assessment of Cero Mackerel in U.S. waters failed to determine the species’ status (GMFMC and SAFMC 2002a). Landings data are also limited, because the National Marine Fisheries Service lumps reports of U.S. commercial landings of Cero Mackerel with King and Spanish Mackerel landings (GMFMC and SAFMC 2002a; Turner and Brooks 2002).

Available U.S. recreational landings and abundance data, however, suggest that the Cero Mackerel population in U.S. waters is stable (GMFMC and SAFMC 2002a; Turner and Brooks 2002; GMFMC and NOAA 2005).

3.00

High: Abundance or biomass is >125% of BMSY or similar proxy.

Points of Adjustment (multiple selections allowed)

-0.25	The population is declining over a generational time scale (as indicated by biomass estimates or standardized CPUE).
-0.25	Age, size or sex distribution is skewed relative to the natural condition (e.g., truncated size/age structure or anomalous sex distribution).
-0.25	Species is listed as “overfished” OR species is listed as “depleted”, “endangered”, or “threatened” by recognized national or international bodies. Cero Mackerel is not listed as overfished.
-0.25	Current levels of abundance are likely to jeopardize the availability of food for other species or cause substantial change in the structure of the associated food web.

+0.25	The population is increasing over a generational time scale (as indicated by biomass estimates or standardized CPUE). Available U.S. recreational landings and abundance data suggest that Cero Mackerel numbers are relatively stable (GMFMC and SAFMC 2002a; Turner and Brooks 2002). Therefore, we chose to neither subtract nor add for this factor.
+0.25	Age, size or sex distribution is functionally normal.
+0.25	Species is close to virgin biomass.
+0.25	Current levels of abundance provide adequate food for other predators or are not known to affect the structure of the associated food web.

2.00	Points for Abundance

Habitat Quality and Fishing Gear Impacts

Core Points (only one selection allowed)

Select the option that most accurately describes the effect of the fishing method upon the habitat that it affects.

1.00	The fishing method causes great damage to physical and biogenic habitats (e.g., cyanide; blasting; bottom trawling; dredging).
2.00	The fishing method does moderate damage to physical and biogenic habitats (e.g., bottom gillnets; traps and pots; bottom longlines).
3.00	The fishing method does little damage to physical or biogenic habitats (e.g., hand picking; hand raking; hook and line; pelagic long lines; mid-water trawl or gillnet; purse seines). Fisheries in U.S. waters targeting King Mackerel incidentally catch and keep Cero Mackerel (Turner, pers. comm., 2006). This fishery uses troll and handline gears that have a minimal impact on habitat. Caribbean fishers, especially in the Bahamas and West Indies, target Cero Mackerel with gillnets and hook-and-line gear (Perotta and Bester 2006). However, trade data indicate that very little or no Cero Mackerel from Caribbean fisheries reach U.S. markets (NMFS 2006), so we did not include them in our analysis.

Points of Adjustment (multiple selections allowed)

-0.25	Habitat for this species is so compromised from non-fishery impacts that the ability of the habitat to support this species is substantially reduced (e.g., dams; pollution; coastal development).
-0.25	Critical habitat areas (e.g., spawning areas) for this species are not protected by management using time/area closures, marine reserves, etc.
-0.25	No efforts are being made to minimize damage from existing gear types OR new or modified gear is increasing habitat damage (e.g., fitting trawls with roller rigs or rockhopping gear; more robust gear for deep-sea fisheries).
-0.25	If gear impacts are substantial, resilience of affected habitats is very slow (e.g., deep water corals; rocky bottoms).

+0.25	Habitat for this species remains robust and viable and is capable of supporting this species.
+0.25	Critical habitat areas (e.g., spawning areas) for this species are protected by management using time/area closures, marine reserves, etc.
+0.25	Gear innovations are being implemented over a majority of the fishing area to minimize damage from gear types OR no innovations necessary because gear effects are minimal. Effects of troll and handline gears on habitat are minimal.
+0.25	If gear impacts are substantial, resilience of affected habitats is fast (e.g., mud or sandy bottoms) OR gear effects are minimal. Effects of troll and handline gears on habitat are minimal.

3.50	Points for Habitat Quality and Fishing Gear Impacts

Management

Core Points (only one selection allowed)

Select the option that most accurately describes the current management of the fisheries of this species.

1.00

Regulations are ineffective (e.g., illegal fishing or overfishing is occurring) OR the fishery is unregulated (i.e., no control rules are in effect).

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council includes Cero Mackerel in their Fishery Management Plan for the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources (NOAA 1995; GMFMC 2004). In U.S. waters, there is only a small directed fishery off Florida for Cero Mackerel (GMFMC and SAFMC 2002a). Otherwise, they are caught incidentally in King Mackerel fisheries in the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico (Turner, pers. comm., 2006).

In the Caribbean, fisheries for Cero Mackerel exist off the West Indies, Cuba, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Venezuela (Finucane and Collins 1984; Turner and Brooks 2002). The National Marine Fisheries Service's Caribbean Fishery Management Council does not manage these Cero Mackerel fisheries.

Because commercial catches of Cero Mackerel in U.S. waters are largely unregulated and unmonitored, we have chosen to award a score of 1.00 here.

2.00

Management measures are in place over a major portion over the species’ range but implementation has not met conservation goals OR management measures are in place but have not been in place long enough to determine if they are likely to achieve conservation and sustainability goals.

3.00

Substantial management measures are in place over a large portion of the species range and have demonstrated success in achieving conservation and sustainability goals.

Points of Adjustment (multiple selections allowed)

-0.25	There is inadequate scientific monitoring of stock status, catch or fishing effort. Due to lack of data, a recent assessment of Cero Mackerel in U.S. waters failed to determine the species’ status (GMFMC and SAFMC 2002a). Monitoring of the impact of fisheries on Cero Mackerel is also lacking: the National Marine Fisheries Service lumps reports of U.S. commercial catches of Cero Mackerel with King and Spanish Mackerel together (GMFMC and SAFMC 2002a; Turner and Brooks 2002). The Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (WCAFC) also reports a large degree of uncertainty in Caribbean Cero Mackerel fisheries (WCAFC 1999).
-0.25	Management does not explicitly address fishery effects on habitat, food webs, and ecosystems.
-0.25	This species is overfished and no recovery plan or an ineffective recovery plan is in place.
-0.25	Management has failed to reduce excess capacity in this fishery or implements subsidies that result in excess capacity in this fishery.

+0.25	There is adequate scientific monitoring, analysis and interpretation of stock status, catch and fishing effort.
+0.25	Management explicitly and effectively addresses fishery effects on habitat, food webs, and ecosystems.
+0.25	This species is overfished and there is a recovery plan (including benchmarks, timetables and methods to evaluate success) in place that is showing signs of success OR recovery plan is not needed. Neither the National Marine Fisheries Service nor any Caribbean fisheries management agency lists Cero Mackerel as overfished.
+0.25	Management has taken action to control excess capacity or reduce subsidies that result in excess capacity OR no measures are necessary because fishery is not overcapitalized. U.S. fisheries that land Cero Mackerel are not overcapitalized (DeVries, pers. comm., 2006).

1.25	Points for Management

Bycatch

Core Points (only one selection allowed)

Select the option that most accurately describes the current level of bycatch and the consequences that result from fishing this species.

The term, "bycatch” used in this document excludes incidental catch of a species for which an adequate management framework exists.

The terms, “endangered, threatened, or protected,” used in this document refer to species status that is determined by national legislation such as the U.S. Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act (or another nation's equivalent), the IUCN Red List, or a credible scientific body such as the American Fisheries Society.

1.00

Bycatch in this fishery is high (>100% of targeted landings), OR regularly includes a “threatened, endangered or protected species.”

2.00

Bycatch in this fishery is moderate (10-99% of targeted landings) AND does not regularly include “threatened, endangered or protected species” OR level of bycatch is unknown.

The level of bycatch in fisheries that catch Cero Mackerel is largely unknown. Indeed, most Cero Mackerel commercially caught in the U.S. are taken incidentally in King Mackerel fisheries in the South Atlantic (Turner, pers. comm., 2006), which have limited levels of bycatch.

Since November 1994, Florida has banned gillnet fishing within state waters. This ban has reduced the incidental capture of protected marine mammals, such as Bottlenose Dolphins, in Cero and King Mackerel fisheries (GMFMC and SAFMC 2004).

Since the level of bycatch associated with commercial fisheries that land Cero Mackerel is unknown, we chose to award the medium score of 2.00 points.

3.00

Bycatch in this fishery is low (<10% of targeted landings) and does not regularly include "threatened, endangered or protected species."

Points of Adjustment (multiple selections allowed)

-0.25	Bycatch in this fishery is a contributing factor to the decline of “threatened, endangered, or protected species" and no effective measures are being taken to reduce it.
-0.25	Bycatch of targeted or non-targeted species (e.g., undersize individuals) in this fishery is high and no measures are being taken to reduce it.
-0.25	Bycatch of this species (e.g., undersize individuals) in other fisheries is high OR bycatch of this species in other fisheries inhibits its recovery, and no measures are being taken to reduce it. Fisheries for King and Spanish Mackerel as well as for Blue Marlin are known to incidentally catch and keep Cero Mackerel. The amount of Cero Mackerel caught in King Mackerel fisheries is unknown, but it likely constitutes the majority of Cero Mackerel sold in U.S. markets. (FAO 2002; GMFMC and SAFMC 2002a). Since Cero Mackerel caught in these fisheries are kept and sold, we chose not to subtract for this factor.
-0.25	The continued removal of the bycatch species contributes to its decline.

+0.25	Measures taken over a major portion of the species range have been shown to reduce bycatch of “threatened, endangered, or protected species” or bycatch rates are no longer deemed to affect the abundance of the “protected” bycatch species OR no measures needed because fishery is highly selective (e.g., harpoon; spear). Since November 1994, Florida has banned gillnet fishing within state waters. This ban has greatly reduced interactions between fisheries that catch Cero Mackerel and protected marine mammals, such as Bottlenose Dolphins (GMFMC and SAFMC 2004).
+0.25	There is bycatch of targeted (e.g., undersize individuals) or non-targeted species in this fishery and measures (e.g., gear modifications) have been implemented that have been shown to reduce bycatch over a large portion of the species range OR no measures are needed because fishery is highly selective (e.g., harpoon; spear).
+0.25	Bycatch of this species in other fisheries is low OR bycatch of this species in other fisheries inhibits its recovery, but effective measures are being taken to reduce it over a large portion of the range.
+0.25	The continued removal of the bycatch species in the targeted fishery has had or will likely have little or no impact on populations of the bycatch species OR there are no significant bycatch concerns because the fishery is highly selective (e.g., harpoon; spear).

2.25	Points for Bycatch

References

DeVries, D. 2006. Personal Communication. NOAA Fisheries Service Panama City Laboratory.

Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 2002. Regional Synthesis on Large Pelagic Fish Fishing: National Reports. Report of the First Meeting of the WECAFC ad hoc Working Group on the Development of Sustainable Moored Fish Aggregating Device Fishing in the Lesser Antilles - Le Robert, Martinique, 8-11 October 2001.

Finucane, H. and L. Collins. 1984. Reproductive Biology of Cero, Scomberomorus regalis, from the Coastal Waters of South Florida. Northeast Gulf Science 7(1): 101-107.

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council. 2004. Scoping Document for a generic amendment to: Coral and Coral Reef FMP, Coastal Migratory Pelagics FMP, Red Drum FMP, Reef Fish FMP, Shrimp FMP, Spiny Lobster FMP, Stone Crab FMP or Selected FMPs to Provide for Regulation of Offshore Marine Aquaculture of Selected Fish

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (GMFMC and NOAA). 2005. Final Amendment to the FMPs for: Reef Fish (Amendment 25) and Coastal Migratory Pelagics (Amendment 17) for Extending the Charter Vessel/Headboat Permit Moratorium (including SEIS/RIR/IRFA).

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (GMFMC and SAFMC). 2004. Draft Amendment 15 to the Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico including Environmental Assessment, Regulatory Impact Review, and Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis.

GMFMC and SAFMC. 2002a. 2002 Report of the Mackerel Stock Assessment Panel.

GMFMC and SAFMC. 2002b. Gulf Fishery News 24(4). Available at: www.gulfcouncil.org/newslet/nlet0902.pdf

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). 2006. Annual Commercial Landings Statistics. King and Cero Mackerel. Available at: http://www.st.nmfs.gov/pls/webpls/MF_ANNUAL_LANDINGS.RESULTS

National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 1995. Our Living Oceans: Report on the Status of U.S. Living Marine Resources 1995. Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico Coastal Migratory Pelagic Fisheries. Available at: www.st.nmfs.gov/st2/tm_spo19/spo19.html

Perotta, T. and C. Bester. 2006. Ichthyology at the Florida Museum of Natural History. Biological Profiles: Cero Mackerel. Available at: www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/CeroMackerel/CeroMackerel.html

Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce (SMSFP). 2005. Species Report: Scomberomorus regalis. Available at: www.sms.si.edu/irlspec/Scombe_regali.htm

Turner, S. 2006. Personal Communication. NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center.

Turner, S. and E. Brooks. 2002. An Examination of Catches and Catch Rates of Cero, Scomberomorus regalis, in the South Florida and Gulf of Mexico Regions Using Data Through 2001.

Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission. 1999. State of Fishery Resources in the WECAFC region.