Life habit of mackerel

Life habit of mackerel

Dense schools of mackerel swim across the water, stretching 32 kilometers (20 miles). They feed primarily on shellfish larvae, worms, eggs and small fish, while themselves food for whales, sharks, dolphins, tuna and seabirds. In spring, mackerel migrate to the coast to spawn. Females lay between 200,000 and 400,000 eggs. Each egg contains a small drop of oil so they can float on the water. It takes four to six days for the eggs to hatch. Small fish grow rapidly, reaching an average body length of 5 cm (2 inches) within two months. In the fall, the mackerel swims back to the deep sea.