Atlantic Horse Mackerel
The horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) is a fish that is widely consumed in our country, due to its great taste and affordable price.
It is a gregarious fish with pelagic habits that lives at a depth of 200 or 300 metres. The larger ones are usually found a few miles offshore, while the younger ones spend a lot of time – especially in summer – close to the coast. Eggs are laid at the surface and number over 120,000 eggs of 1mm in diameter. The eggs give rise to larvae that are 2.5 mm long when hatched and quickly take on the shape of small cicadas. During most of the first phase of their lives, the young of the horse mackerel live in the tentacles of the jellyfish.
It is usually fished with trawl nets and the optimum season is from April to October.
It feeds on small fish and crustaceans.
It has difficulty scaling them, due to the spine of its dorsal fin and the other two located in front of the anal fin.
In terms of nutrients: it stands out for its high protein content, potassium (necessary for the nervous system to function) and omega-3 fatty acids. It also provides iodine, which is necessary for the development of children and for the functioning of the thyroid gland. It also contains vitamins A and D.
The nutritional value per 100g is as follows:
- Calories: 112 kcal
- Protein: 15.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 0
- Fat: 6,8 g
- Zinc: 0,5 mg
- Potassium: 420 mg