The survey existed since 1968. It is carried out every 3 years in the north eastern Atlantic. The year after the Atlantic survey, a mackerel egg survey is conducted in the North Sea. The survey creates a basis for the stock assessment of Atlantic and North Sea mackerel and management plan for Atlantic horse mackerel. The historical MEGS data is expected to be uploaded in 2015-2016. The group responsible for the survey is WGMEGS.