Welcome to Coronel!

Sea Tales jack mackerel is caught in the coastal waters of Chile. A total of six boats head out in search of this delicious fish — including the Ventisquero, captained by our proud ambassador Elvis. Before setting sail into the Pacific Ocean, Elvis and his crew load up the Ventisquero with everything they need for the long journey. Since they’re often away for up to a week, the boat feels like a second home. And thanks to onboard chef Sandro, there’s always something tasty on the table!

Using sonar, the crew scans the ocean for large schools of jack mackerel. The technology doesn’t just help them find the fish — it also shows the size of the school. They only catch fish that are just the right size — not too small, not too big. That’s how they make sure the fish tastes its best and the ecosystem stays in balance.

Once the crew has located a school of jack mackerel, they release the purse seine net. Jack mackerel swim in dense schools made up almost entirely of their own kind — making the catch efficient and sustainable, with minimal bycatch! And no, the fishermen don’t catch the entire school at once — that would be impossible. A single school can contain millions of fish and stretch for hundreds of meters.

After the catch, part of the jack mackerel is shipped by boat to Volendam, where smoke master Jaap smokes the fish the traditional way. His craftsmanship and recipe give the fish a rich, distinctive flavor — the very same one you’ll find on shelves in Dutch supermarkets. Another part of the catch is canned in Coronel, right next to the harbor. Here, people from across the region work together to prepare the fish — keeping jobs and value within the local community.