Seafood
Barramundi - U.S.
U.S. farmed Barramundi is raised in closed aquaculture systems, where water is recycled and very little waste is released into the environment. The waste that is released is heavily treated and can be used as fertilizer for agriculture. Native to tropical Australia and Asia, Barramundi are opportunistic predators of fish and crustaceans. In the U.S., farm-raised Barramundi are fed high energy pellets consisting of moderate levels of fish meal and oil.
Learn MoreCapelin Masago
Capelin have a circumpolar distribution in the Arctic and represent one of the largest fisheries in the world. They grow fast, reproduce in 3-4 years and then die. Most Capelin is caught in Iceland and Canada using purse seines, which cause little habitat damage and produce limited bycatch. Capelin are an important source of food for many seabirds, marine mammals and commercially important fish species.
Learn MoreClam, Atlantic Surf Hokkigai
The Atlantic Surf Clam fishery in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is managed through an individual transferrable quota (ITQ) system. This management system has demonstrated success by preventing overfishing and promoting high abundance. However, despite being a long-lived (~40 year maximum age) and early maturing (~2 years old) species, biomass estimates have continually dropped since 1997. The Surf Clam fishery is a very ‘clean’ fishery with limited bycatch and having virtually no impact on protected species. However, the hydraulic clam dredge used to catch Surf Clams causes moderate to significant damage to sandy bottom habitat. Fisheries in New York and New Jersey state waters are managed and assessed by state authorities.
Learn MoreClam, Geoduck Mirugai
Geoducks are large clams that can live for over 100 years, and generally reach sexually maturity in less than 10 years. Due to good management, Geoduck Clams are relatively abundant along the Pacific coast of the U.S. and Canada. They are caught using directed water jets called 'stingers' that loosen the substrate around each clam, allowing it to be removed by hand. This fishing method has little environmental impact and results in low bycatch.
Learn MoreClam, Manilla - farmed
Manila clams are farmed on medium impact intertidal beach plots. Like other mollusks, no feed is necessary, and they improve water quality by filtering out impurities from seawater. While Manila clams are farmed outside of their native range, populations have been established for a long time with no negative consequences for native ecosystems.
Learn MoreCrawfish - U.S.
U.S. farmers grow Red Swamp and White Swamp Crawfish in man-made ponds, often with rice or soybean crops. More than 90% of all U.S. crawfish production occurs in Louisiana, where these species are native. Crawfish producers do not use feed to raise crawfish; instead they subsist on detritus and small animals in their ponds' food webs.
Learn MoreHerring, Atlantic - U.S. and Canada
In the U.S. and Canada Atlantic Herring range from the Labrador coast to South Carolina. Herring support a substantial bait industry for lobster, blue crab and tuna fisheries. They are also sold as steaks, kippers and are one of many species sold in the U.S. as canned sardines. The U.S. and Canadian populations have fully recovered from overfishing in the 1960s with large scale population increases since the 1990s. Early maturation, low bycatch gear, and collaborative management by federal and state partners contribute to the species' resilience to fishing pressure.
Learn MoreHoki 
Hoki is one of the most abundant commercial species in New Zealand and the majority of Hoki are exported to China, where they are re-exported to Europe. There are two populations of Hoki in New Zealand waters (western and eastern) and both populations have high abundance. Hoki form spawning aggregations in several locations during the winter months, and fishermen easily target these aggregations. Fishermen use both mid-water and bottom trawls to target Hoki, which have varying degrees of affect to benthic habitat. Bycatch of seabirds and fur seals has been reduced over the past several years and the Marine Stewardship Council certifies the fishery as sustainable.
Learn MoreMackerel, Atlantic Saba
Atlantic Mackerel are fast swimmers found throughout the Atlantic Ocean that mature within 3 years. In U.S. waters, Atlantic Mackerel have rebounded from being overfished in the 1970s and are at a high level of abundance. Europeans target separate populations of Atlantic Mackerel, and both fisheries primarily use mid-water trawls, but also bottom trawls. Bycatch of marine mammals continues to be a problem in this otherwise healthy fishery.
Learn MoreMackerel, Chub
Chub Mackerel are found along both coasts of North America, but the fisheries in California and Mexico are most important. Chub Mackerel school at the surface of coastal waters, often with sardines and anchovy. Bycatch is usually low, because fishers set nets directly on schools. Sardines and anchovies caught in the process are sold. Impacts of fishing gear on habitat are also low, because the fishery uses pelagic seine nets that rarely contact the seafloor. Chub Mackerel are sold fresh and as fish meal, oil, and tuna bait.
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Mackerel, King
Overfished in the mid-1980s, King Mackerel have rebounded to a high level of abundance today. Conservative management measures now govern the hook-and-line and runaround-gillnet fisheries for King Mackerel. These surface fisheries have little bycatch compared to other fisheries and no adverse effects on habitat.
Learn MoreMackerel, Spanish Sawara
Spanish Mackerel inhabit coastal waters along the Eastern seaboard of the U.S. and have recovered from years of overfishing to high abundance today. They are important to recreational as well as commercial fishers. The surface gears fishers use to catch Spanish Mackerel have little bycatch and no adverse effects on habitat.
Learn MoreMahimahi - pole and troll caught
Fast-growing, short-lived species, Mahimahi potentially can withstand high fishing pressure. Pole- or troll-caught are better than longline-caught because fewer unintended fish and marine mammals are taken, and there is no problem of seabird and marine turtle bycatch.
Learn MoreMussel, Blue - farmed
Most Blue Mussels sold in the U.S. are native to where they're farmed. They filter plankton from the water and need no extra feed. Farmers raise them on ropes hung on structures placed in coastal waters, which causes little habitat disruption. Mussels can also be grown on the seafloor and harvested using dredges, a method which causes some disruption to bottom habitat.
Learn MoreMussel, Greenshell - New Zealand
Like other mussels, New Zealand's Green Mussels filter plankton and nutrients from the surrounding water, thereby improving water quality. Green Mussels are native to New Zealand, where they are farmed. Management there is strong; New Zealand's rigorous permitting process prevents habitat degradation by ensuring that farms are excluded from sensitive habitat areas.
Learn MoreMussel, Mediterranean
Although Mediterranean Mussels farmed in the U.S. are an introduced species, they are well established, and have not had negative effects on local ecosystems. Mussels feed by filtering water for plankton and nutrients, so no fishmeal or fish oil is needed to raise them. These mussels are raised on suspended ropes, which keeps habitat intact.
Learn MoreOyster, Eastern
The Chesapeake Bay was once the center of Eastern Oyster production, but overfishing and disease have decimated its oyster population. States bordering the Gulf of Mexico now supply the majority of Eastern Oysters. Eastern Oyster cultivation improves water quality by filtering algae from the water column. The most common method for harvesting Eastern Oysters is dredging, which is harmful to bottom habitat.
Learn MoreOyster, Pacific
Pacific Oysters are an introduced species on the U.S. west coast. However, populations have been established for a long time, and wild beds and farms help restore the ecological functions lost when the native Olympia Oyster populations were decimated by pollution and overfishing. Like other bivalves, Pacific Oysters filter feed, thereby removing nutrients and improving water quality.
Learn MorePollock, Walleye Surimi/Kanikama
Pollock, which live on both sides of the North Pacific, are quick to mature, which potentially enables them to withstand high fishing pressure. Pollock support the world's largest whitefish fishery, which supplies surimi (minced fish) for imitation crabmeat, roe, and fillets to markets in the U.S., Europe, and Japan. Managers closely monitor the large-scale Pollock fishery, which uses mid-water trawls and has low bycatch. Possible impacts on declining Steller Sea Lions, which prey on Pollock, continue to concern managers and environmental groups.
Learn MoreSalmon - Alaska Sake, Ikura
Salmon caught from Alaska consists of five species: Pink, Sockeye, Chum, Coho and Chinook (King) Salmon. Abundance of salmon, particularly Pink and Sockeye, is high in Alaska due to good management and healthy habitat. The majority of salmon is caught with purse seines, followed by gillnets and troll gear. These fishing methods cause little habitat damage and result in moderate levels of bycatch, typically other fish.
Learn MoreSardines Iwashi
Sardines are abundant in most temperate waters throughout the Pacific and Indian Oceans. They grow rapidly and are important food for many fish, seabirds and marine mammals. Sardines are caught using purse seines, which cause minimal habitat damage and result in little bycatch.
Learn MoreScallops, Bay Hotate
Since native U.S. Bay Scallops suffer from depletion, most Bay Scallops come from coastal aquaculture farms in China. There, growers reportedly produce all their scallops via suspension culture, with relatively low impact to the environment. Be aware that some Calico Scallops may be labeled as Bay Scallops (Calicos are severely depleted and taken with habitat-damaging dredges).
Learn MoreSea Urchin, Green - British Columbia Uni
Green Sea Urchins are reasonably abundant along the coasts of northwest Canada. Sea Urchins are prolific breeders and can live over 20 years. They are hand-caught by divers so bycatch is minimal with no damage to the habitat. Sea Urchins graze Kelp and are eaten by many animals like Sea Otters, and therefore are an important link in the marine ecosystem.
Learn MoreSea Urchin, Red - British Columbia Uni
Red Sea Urchins are moderately abundant along the coasts of northeast Canada. Sea Urchins are prolific breeders and can live over 20 years. They are hand-caught by divers so bycatch is minimal with no damage to the habitat. Sea Urchins graze Kelp and are eaten by many animals like Sea Otters, and therefore are an important link in the marine ecosystem.
Learn MoreSea Urchin, Roe
Uni comes from Green and Red Sea Urchins, which are reasonably abundant along the coasts of the northeastern Pacific. Both Urchin species are prolific breeders and can live over 20 years. They are hand-caught by divers so bycatch is minimal with no damage to the habitat. Sea Urchins graze Kelp and are eaten by many animals like Sea Otters, and therefore are an important link in the marine ecosystem.
Learn MoreShrimp - Canada Amaebi
This species is distributed along the northern coastlines of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, including the North and Bering Seas and the Sea of Okhotsk. The Canadian fishery uses trawl nets to catch Northern Shrimp over muddy bottoms, and mandatory use of bycatch reduction devices (called Nordmore grates) has greatly reduced bycatch of depleted groundfish. The fishery is also managed under an individual quota system, which has ended the dangerous incentive to fish competitively for shrimp.
Learn MoreShrimp, Pink
This coldwater species is found from California to Alaska and changes sex from male to female after its first year of life. The fishery, centered in Oregon, uses double-rigged trawl nets to catch shrimp over muddy bottoms. Effective management measures have addressed bycatch of depleted Pacific rockfish (through the use of Oregon grates) and overcapitalization problems (through groundfish license buyback and limited entry programs).
Learn MoreSnapper, Yellowtail - US
Yellowtail Snapper are found in the Atlantic from New England to southeastern Brazil, although they are most common in tropical regions like the Bahamas, Florida and the Caribbean. They are a fast growing species that reaches sexual maturity at a young age and can produce many eggs. The abundance of Yellowtail Snapper in the Caribbean is unknown but is considered healthy in the US south Atlantic. Yellowtail Snappers support commercial fisheries off the southeastern United States, Cuba and the Caribbean. The primary gear used to catch Yellowtail Snapper is hook-and-line gear, which has a very low impact on the seafloor and catches moderate levels of bycatch.
Learn MoreSole, Rock
Southern and Northern Rock Soles are commercially important Pacific groundfish targeted by U.S. and Canadian trawl vessels. Rock Soles grow at a moderate rate and can live 22 years. Thanks to successful management measures, they are at high levels of abundance, but changes in oceanic conditions may cause Rock Sole populations to decline in the future. Destructive bottom trawling for Rock Soles fortunately takes place over sand/mud habitats, which are not as damaged by trawling as other habitats.
Learn MoreSquid, Argentine Ika
Argentine Squid constitute much of the U.S. imported squid supply. They reproduce and die quickly, often within one year, a lifecycle that potentially buffers them from heavy fishing pressure. Changes in environmental conditions influence their population sizes from year-to-year. South American and Asian distant-water jigging vessels dominate the fishery, which mainly occurs off the coasts of Argentina and the Falkland Islands and in international waters. Little is known about bycatch in Argentine Squid fisheries, except that it includes small numbers of other squid species and finfish.
Learn MoreSquid, Market Ika
Market Squid are short-lived and can withstand intensive fishing pressure at their spawning grounds off the California coast. But they are vulnerable to large-scale changes in the environment driven by El Nino Southern Oscillation events. Robust estimates of Market Squid abundance elude fisheries biologists and managers, which makes management of the population difficult at best.
Learn MoreStriped Bass Suzuki
Striped Bass are a moderately growing, long-lived fish found along the Atlantic Coast of the U.S. and Canada. Since the collapse of the Striped Bass fishery in the 1980s, numbers have gradually increased due to successful management and today Striped Bass have a high abundance throughout much of their range. Striped Bass are an important recreational and commercial seafood species, and are mostly caught using hook and line, and gillnets. These fishing methods have minimal habitat impacts and result in moderate levels of bycatch.
Learn MoreTilapia - U.S.
Tilapia require little fishmeal and fish oil in their feed. Most U.S. tilapia farms use low-risk re-circulating systems, which produce less pollution and minimize escapes compared to most foreign tilapia farms. Because tilapia are aggressive, non-native species, escapes that do occur contribute to the decline of freshwater fish populations.
Learn MoreTuna, Albacore - U.S. pole and troll caught Bin'naga maguro
Albacore tuna are a migratory, schooling fish with a high reproductive rate. Although the status of the population is uncertain, scientists recommend that fishing efforts remain stable or be reduced to maintain long-term abundance. Agencies that manage albacore fisheries have capped fishing efforts. Pole and troll fishing for albacore cause no habitat damage and result in a relatively small amount of bycatch.
Learn MoreTuna, Bigeye - pole and troll caught Maguro
Bigeye Tuna are a large fish, growing to over 200 kg (440 lbs), and are found throughout the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. They grow reasonably fast, can release millions of eggs each year, and can live to 10 years. Worldwide, Bigeye Tuna have a medium abundance; however, some populations are healthier than others. Bigeye Tuna are caught using a variety of fishing methods including purse seines and longlines, but pole and trolling methods are more selective and result in little bycatch. Bigeye Tuna are a popular item on the Japanese sashimi market, often sold as Maguro.
Learn MoreTuna, Skipjack - pole and troll caught Katsuo
Skipjack Tuna represent about half of the global tuna catch and are commonly sold as 'canned light' or 'chunk light'. They can spawn millions of eggs each year, grow fast, and have a high rate of population increase. Although management measures are generally weak, Skipjack Tuna are common in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. There is little bycatch associated with pole and line caught Skipjack Tuna, making it a better alternative to purse seine caught tuna.
Learn MoreTuna, Yellowfin - pole and troll caught Maguro
Yellowfin Tuna grow quickly, produce millions of eggs per spawning, and live up to 9 years. They are found throughout the world's tropical and sub-tropical oceans, with one population occurring in each of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans and two in the Pacific (eastern and western and central). Abundance of Yellowfin Tuna varies among populations, but overall abundance is at a medium level. Generally captured by purse-seine fisheries for the canned tuna market, Yellowfin Tuna are also captured in pole and troll fisheries, which produce little to no bycatch and are a model for selective fisheries.
Learn MoreWahoo - U.S. Atlantic
Wahoo are found throughout the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans and are prized by recreational fishers for their fighting behavior and by commercial fishers for the high price they bring at fish houses. Wahoo do not support a directed commercial fishery; instead, they are incidentally captured in small numbers in other fisheries. Managers in the eastern US recently implemented a precautionary plan to prevent future commercial fisheries that target Wahoo from developing.
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Bluefish
Although mostly caught by recreational fishers, commercial Bluefish fishers also bring this species to market. High population growth combined with good fisheries management has seen Bluefish abundance increase over the last decade to healthy levels. Most Bluefish are caught with gillnets, which occasionally entangle sea turtles and dolphins. When caught by hook and line, Bluefish are more ocean-friendly.
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Catfish - U.S.
Fish farmers raise Catfish mostly in the Southern U.S. in large earthen ponds, resulting in some water pollution problems. Compared to other farmed fish, Catfish need less fishmeal/oil from wild sources in their feed, and they are native to where they're farmed.
Learn MoreClam, Hard
Hard Clams are found in intertidal or subtidal waters along the western Atlantic coast and in the Gulf of Mexico. Most commercial fisheries for Hard Clams occur between Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and North Carolina. Either individual states, municipalities, or a combination of both set regulations for fishing. While populations are stable in many areas, they are at low levels in some areas compared to historical abundances. Low abundance is likely due to a combination of overfishing and poor water quality. While gear impacts to the habitat are moderate, bycatch is very low. Note: Usually referred to by size classification (from smallest to largest): Button, Littleneck, Topneck, Cherrystone, and Chowder
Learn MoreCod, Pacific
Pacific Cod is a relatively fast growing fish that can produce several hundred thousand eggs per year. It is commercially fished in two regions, the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands, and both populations have good abundance. The main fishing methods for Pacific Cod are bottom trawl, pot, longline, and jig gear. Management in Alaska uses a series of catch limits, observer counts, closures, and permits to limit the overall ecosystem effects of the Pacific Cod fishery. Concerns regarding seabird bycatch and food availability for Steller’s sea lions have been addressed by recent management that has changed gear requirements to reduce seabird catch, and implemented a series of closures to protect critical sea lion habitat. In January 2010, the Marine Stewardship Council certified all gear types in the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands as sustainable fisheries.
Learn MoreCrab, Dungeness Kani
Dungeness Crabs dwell in shallow coastal waters from Alaska to Mexico and are named after the Dungeness Spit along the south shore of the Straits of Juan de Fuca. Abundance fluctuates greatly due to environmental factors and consequently populations are difficult to assess. Dungeness Crabs have some reproductive strategies that help populations withstand fishing pressure. Males will mate with numerous females, and large females can carry over two million eggs. To help protect Dungeness Crabs, state and tribal managers prohibit catches of females and require that fishers only catch males that are large enough to have mated at least twice. Most crabs are caught in low-bycatch traps, called pots.
Learn MoreCrab, King - U.S. Kani
King Crab fisheries in the U.S. are strongly managed and their offshore, deep-sea habitat remains healthy. These spider-like crustaceans molt, aggregate to mate, and brood their eggs for about a year, all traits that make them vulnerable to fishing. Their abundance naturally expands and contracts, but good management keeps these populations fairly healthy.
Learn MoreCrab, Stone Kani
Popular in the Southeast U.S. and supplied predominantly by the Florida West coast crab fishery, fishers use relatively low-bycatch traps to catch Stone Crabs. These crabs benefit from naturally high fertility, which helps provide resilience to fishing pressure. Fishers for Stone Crabs have been advocates for strong management; they urged regulators to adopt a program to reduce the number of traps allowed in the fishery.
Learn MoreFlounder, Summer
Summer flounder inhabit estuarine and coastal waters off the northeast east coast of the US, from the Gulf of Maine to South Carolina. Summer flounder mature early, produce many eggs and spawn often over the spawning season, factors that help keep their abundance at moderate levels. In the commercial fishery, which accounts for about 50% of the total annual catch, bottom trawls are commonly used to catch Summer Flounder. A major rod-and-reel recreational fishery accounts for the rest. Bycatch is low in both fisheries. The Summer Flounder population is currently being rebuilt and is no longer considered to be overfished.
Learn MoreGrouper, Black - U.S.
In the U.S., Black Grouper are found from Massachusetts to Texas but the majority of Black Grouper are caught in south Florida, specifically the Florida Keys. Black grouper are caught using handlines and bottom longlines, which typically cause a moderate amount of damage to bottom habitat and catch moderate levels of bycatch. New management measures that will reduce interactions with sea turtles and other protected species have recently been put into place. Black Grouper can grow to 100 kg (220 lbs) and change sex from females to males after 15 years. They have healthy levels of abundance throughout their range in the US south Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.
Learn MoreHalibut, Pacific Hirame
Pacific Halibut can live over 50 years, grow to 9 feet, and weigh over 500 pounds. They are found along the coastal waters of the northeast Pacific from northern California to the Gulf of Alaska and into the Bering Sea. Pacific Halibut has a healthy abundance due largely to responsible management by the United States and Canada in a bilateral commission known as the International Pacific Halibut Commission, where annual catches and bycatch are strictly capped. In most areas, commercial fishermen own shares of the total annual catch, eliminating the incentive to fish competitively. Most Pacific Halibut is caught using bottom longlines, but many fish are also caught by recreational fishermen. Seabird bycatch is a concern in the Alaska demersal or bottom longline fishery (which includes Pacific Halibut), but procedures are in place that mandate longline vessels to use seabird avoidance devices.
Learn MoreLingcod - U.S. West Coast
Lingcod, which aren't actually related to cod, dwell along the ocean bottom. Males can be especially sedentary, establishing territories before spawning and guarding fertized eggs until they hatch. Off the U.S. West Coast, most commercially caught Lingcod are taken along with other groundfish in trawl fisheries. Today, however, recreational fishers are taking more Lingcod than commercial fishers. Lingcod are considered rebuilt from previous overfishing. Bycatch of depleted rockfish in trawl fisheries remains a major problem.
Learn MoreLobster, American
American Lobsters, found from Newfoundland to North Carolina, are a long-lived species and an important commercial fishery. Landings of American Lobsters has increased greatly during the last decade and most populations have stable abundance. The American Lobster fishery is well managed in both U.S and Canadian waters, however, entanglements of endangered North Atlantic Right Whales in lobster fishing gear is a significant concern. The Eastern Canada offshore lobster fishery has been certified as environmentally sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council.
Learn MoreLobster, Australia Rock
The first fishery certified by the Marine Stewardship Council, the Western Rock Lobster fishery of Australia remains a well-managed and sustainable fishery. Regular monitoring of juvenile lobster abundance allows managers to adjust fishing effort during periods of low recruitment. Although habitat effects are minimal, the occasional bycatch of sea lions, turtles and whales is of some concern.
Learn MoreLobster, California Spiny
The California Spiny Lobster fishery is a small, but locally important and largely sustainable fishery in southern California. Abundance of Spiny Lobsters off California varies with broad-scale changes in environmental conditions caused by El Nino and La Nina. State managers closely regulate commercial fishing for Spiny Lobster, but do not monitor recreational catches. Bycatch is low. Spiny Lobster traps generally allow undersize lobsters and other animals to escape.
Learn MoreMackerel, Cero Saba
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.
Learn MoreSablefish, Alaska
Alaska Sablefish is a long-lived species dwelling in deep waters of the Northeast Pacific. Although Sablefish were overexploited in the past, the population has increased in recent years as a result of progressive management and is now at a medium level of abundance. In contrast to the dangerous derby style of fishing that characterized the fishery in previous decades, Sablefish fishers now own shares of the quota. This system gives fishers an incentive to maintain the population at healthier levels and reduces the amount of fish that's wasted in the process of catching Sablefish. Most Sablefish in Alaska are caught by hook-and-line gear known as bottom longlines. This fishing method catches fewer unwanted species than trawling and is likely to cause less damage to the seafloor.
Learn MoreSea Urchin, Red California Uni
Red Sea Urchins in California are overfished and generally uncommon in rocky habitats. They are hand-caught by divers so bycatch is minimal with no damage to the habitat. Sea Urchins graze Kelp and are eaten by many animals like Sea Otters, and therefore are an important link in the marine ecosystem.
Learn MoreShark, Blacktip - U.S.
Blacktip Sharks are a highly migratory species that are commonly found in coastal regions in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide. Blacktip Sharks are a primary target species of the U.S. bottom longline shark fishery and are also targeted by the Florida-Georgia shark gillnet fishery. The most recent population assessments have suggested that Blacktip Sharks in the Gulf of Mexico are not overfished or undergoing overfishing. The status of Blacktip Sharks in the NW Atlantic Ocean is unknown.
Learn MoreShark, Mako - U.S. Pacific
The Shortfin Mako Shark is a pelagic species found in temperate and tropical waters worldwide. Female Mako Sharks are long-lived, reach sexual maturity around 18 years of age and have an average litter size of 12 pups. Mako Sharks are caught by pelagic longlines in the Pacific Ocean and drift gillnets off California, Oregon and Washington. The U.S. Pacific population is reasonably healthy, however, globally Mako Sharks are considered 'vulnerable' by the IUCN. Mako Sharks suffer from low productivity and high susceptibility to fishing and are therefore at a high risk for overexploitation.
Learn MoreShark, Spiny Dogfish - U.S. Atlantic
Spiny Dogfish in the NW Atlantic Ocean are typically caught in fisheries using gillnets, hook and line gear and otter trawls. Since 2000, Federal management has drastically reduced the quota for Spiny Dogfish from the NW Atlantic Ocean, however, they are commonly caught in other fisheries. The most recent assessment of Atlantic Spiny Dogfish determined that it is no longer being overfished, although the number of sexually mature females is still low. Spiny Dogfish grow slowly and can live for over 30 years of age.
Learn MoreShark, Thresher - U.S.
Thresher Sharks are found in temperate and tropical waters worldwide, and generally swim at or near the surface along coastlines and in the open ocean. Most Thresher Sharks become sexually mature within 7 years and have moderate growth rates. In the U.S., Thresher Sharks are targeted off the west coast by the drift gillnet fishery and are caught as bycatch in the NW Atlantic Ocean by the pelagic longline fishery. The abundance of Thresher Sharks is healthy along the U.S. west coast but unknown in the NW Atlantic Ocean.
Learn MoreShrimp - U.S. farmed Ebi
Farmed shrimp require high amounts of fishmeal and fish oil in their food compared to other farmed fish and shellfish. To reduce pollution when shrimp water is discharged, it is usually treated. Imported farmed shrimp come from areas with weaker environmental protections, and practices commonly damage ecosystems. U.S. farm-raised shrimp are a better alternative to imported farm-raised shrimp and to trawl-caught shrimp.
Learn MoreSnapper, Mutton - U.S.
Mutton Snapper are most commonly found in the tropical waters of the Caribbean, Florida and Gulf of Mexico. They can live to 40 years of age, have moderate growth rates, and become sexually mature after 3 years. Mutton Snapper were overfished for many years, but their abundance has increased and today it is at a medium level in the South Atlantic U.S. and Gulf of Mexico. Mutton Snapper are mostly caught by hook-and-line, bottom longlines or traps, fishing methods which cause moderate habitat damage and some bycatch of sea turtles and sawfish.
Learn MoreSnapper, Vermilion - U.S.
Vermilion Snapper are found from North Carolina to Brazil and throughout the Gulf of Mexico. They reach sexual maturity at a young age and are highly fecund, spawning multiple times per year. Vermilion Snapper are abundant in the Gulf of Mexico, but are undergoing overfishing in the U.S. South Atlantic though the population is not considered overfished. The majority of fishermen use hook-and-line gear to catch Vermilion Snapper, which has little impact on bottom habitat and results in moderate levels of bycatch.
Learn MoreSole, Dover
Dover Sole is a long-lived, deep-dwelling species targeted by the commercially important Pacific groundfish fisheries. The population size of Dover Sole is below healthy levels, but good management and changes in oceanic conditions may enable the population to grow in the near future. Destructive bottom trawling for Dover Sole fortunately takes place over sand/mud habitats, which are not as damaged by trawling as other habitats.
Learn MoreSole, Petrale
Petrale Sole are a commercially important Pacific groundfish species targeted by U.S. and Canadian trawl vessels. Petrale Sole grow at a moderate rate and can live 25 years. They are at a medium level of abundance, but tight management and changes in oceanic conditions may enable the population to grow in the near future. Destructive bottom trawling for Petrale Sole fortunately takes place over their sand/mud habitats, which are not as damaged by trawling as other habitats.
Learn MoreSole, Yellowfin
Yellowfin Sole is a commercially important Pacific groundfish targeted by U.S. and Canadian trawl vessels. Yellowfin Sole grow at a slow rate and can live for 31 years. Thanks to successful management measures, they are at high levels of abundance, but changes in oceanic conditions may cause the population to decline in the future. Destructive bottom trawling for Yellowfin Sole fortunately takes place over sand/mud habitats, which are not as damaged by trawling as other habitats.
Learn MoreSquid, Longfin Ika
Overfished in the late 1990s, Longfin Squid are now abundant in U.S. Atlantic waters thanks to their fast growth and short lifespan which enable them to withstand moderate fishing pressure. Historically, the domestic fishery for Longfin Squid was small, but the exclusion of foreign squid boats from U.S. waters and increases in international demand for squid have fostered an expansion in the U.S. fishery. Longfin Squid are now well-managed, but bycatch of marine mammals continues to marr the fishery.
Learn MoreSquid, Shortfin
Shortfin Squid grow quickly and reproduce at a young age, which helps their resilience to fishing pressure. They appear to be at a healthy level of abundance, but it varies from year to year due their short life span and sensitivity to environmental conditions. To protect against overfishing, managers limit the number of boats allowed in the fishery. In the U.S. Shortfin Squid is not sold for human consumption but is used for bait primarily in the Atlantic Cod fishery.
Learn MoreStriped Bass, Hybrid - farmed Suzuki
Hybrid striped bass are a cross between striped bass and white bass. The predominant farming methods for this species are inland ponds and tanks, which lead to less water pollution and disease than other aquaculture methods for finfish (e.g. netpens).
Learn MoreSwordfish - Atlantic and Mediterranean
Swordfish populations are rebuilding in the North Atlantic, while their abundance is unknown in the Mediterranean Sea. Most Swordfish are longline-caught, with high bycatch of marine mammals, sea turtles, and sharks.
Learn MoreTuna, Albacore - pole and troll caught, imported Bin'naga maguro
Albacore Tuna are highly fecund predators found throughout the world's temperate and tropical seas. Highly exploited in the North Atlantic, Albacore Tuna populations are at a medium to high level of abundance in other regions. Bycatch in these fisheries is low and does not include endangered species, like longline fisheries.
Learn MoreTuna, Bigeye - purse seine caught
Bigeye Tuna can grow to over 200 kg (440 lbs) and live for 10 years. Female Bigeye Tuna are very fecund, releasing millions of eggs each year. Bigeye Tuna are found throughout the world's tropical and sub-tropical oceans, with populations in the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Bigeye Tuna have a medium abundance overall; however, some populations are healthier than others. Purse seine fisheries catch the majority of Bigeye Tuna worldwide, with most processed by canneries into canned tuna (labeled as Chunk Light tuna, along with Skipjack and Yellowfin Tuna). Bycatch levels are moderate, typically including other tuna species and sharks.
Learn MoreTuna, Canned
Although they're quick to mature and found throughout the world's oceans, some Skipjack, Yellowfin, Bigeye (chunk light) and Albacore (chunk white) populations are declining due to heavy fishing pressure. Most canned tuna is caught by purse seine nets or longlines that also catch large numbers of sharks, sea turtles, marine mammals, and sea birds. Some canned tuna is caught using poles or by trolling, fishing methods that are very selective and result in very little bycatch, and thus better for our oceans. Although canned tuna gets a LIGHT GREEN ranking overall, tuna abundances and fishing methods vary so check the label on the can. Albacore, Bigeye and Yellowfin Tuna can have high levels of mercury.
Learn MoreTuna, Skipjack - purse seine caught Katsuo
Skipjack Tuna represent about half of the global tuna catch and are commonly sold as “canned light” or “chunk light”, with most caught using purse seines. Skipjack Tuna can spawn millions of eggs each year, grow fast, and have a high rate of population increase. Although management measures are generally weak, Skipjack Tuna are common in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. Bycatch from purse seines is moderate but can include other tunas, dolphins, sharks and sea turtles, thus pole and line caught Skipjack Tuna is a better alternative.
Learn MoreTuna, Yellowfin - purse seine caught Maguro
Yellowfin Tuna grow rapidly, produce millions of eggs per spawning, and have shorter lifespans than many other tunas, qualities that potentially enable them to withstand high fishing pressure. Yellowfin Tuna are found throughout the world's tropical and sub-tropical oceans, with one population occurring in each of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans and two in the Pacific (eastern and western and central). Abundance of Yellowfin Tuna varies among populations, but overall abundance is at a medium level. Purse seine fisheries catch the majority of Yellowfin Tuna worldwide, with most processed by canneries into canned tuna (labeled as Chunk Light tuna, along with Skipjack and Bigeye Tuna). Setting nets around schools of dolphins and tuna remains a common method for capturing Yellowfin Tuna in the Eastern Pacific. Although current regulations have greatly reduced the number of dolphins caught and killed annually, dolphin populations have not recovered.
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Catfish - imported
Swai and Basa are river catfish, commonly sold as Pangasius, which are farmed in South and Southeast Asia, mostly in the Mekong River Delta region. Both Swai and Basa are native to the region and are mostly farmed in ponds. Pangasius are either fed commercial feed or a combination of commercial feed and traditional farm-made feed, with the latter containing high levels of “trash” fish which has a high (bad) feed conversion ratio. While government enforcement of farming practices is often weak, there is a growing recognition about the environmental cost of effluent discharge.
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Crab, Blue
Blue Crabs mature early and carry their eggs for a short period of time, making them more resilient to fishing pressure than other crab species. Abundance varies throughout their range. Habitat degradation in the Chesapeake Bay and Gulf of Mexico threaten Blue Crabs in those regions.
Learn MoreCrabs, Snow and Tanner - U.S. and Canada
Snow Crabs in Alaska are classified as overfished, owing to their low level of abundance. Although fishery managers have implemented rebuilding measures, it is too soon to tell if they are effective. Canadian Atlantic populations are considered healthy. Snow Crabs are caught in pots, which cause moderate damage to habitat, but generally have lower bycatch than other fishing methods.
Learn MoreFlounder, Windowpane
Windowpane Flounder are a fast growing species of flatfish found in the northwest Atlantic from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to Florida. The overall abundance of Windowpane Flounder is currently low, but there is a recovery plan in place to increase numbers. Most Windowpane Flounder are caught by bottom trawls, resulting in moderate levels of bycatch and potentially high levels of habitat damage. However, most trawling occurs in areas subject to high physical disturbance and mitigation methods are in place to reduce damage to the seafloor.
Learn MoreFlounder, Winter
Winter flounder is a fast growing flatfish, distributed along the Atlantic coast from Labrador to North Carolina. They are typically found in inshore bays and estuaries in the winter and deeper waters in the summer. Spawning migrations to deeper, cooler waters of estuaries or offshore areas occurs in the spring and summer. There are three managed populations of Winter Flounder - Georges Bank, Gulf of Maine and southern New England/Mid-Atlantic Bight – but all are overfished with very low abundance. Winter Flounders are most commonly caught by bottom trawling, often in shallow coastal areas that are important nursery grounds for other commercial fish. Bottom trawling can greatly damage the seafloor.
Learn MoreFlounder, Yellowtail
Yellowtail Flounder is a fast growing flatfish that produces many young and reaches a maximum size of 55 cm (22 inches) and 1 kg (2 lbs). Yellowtail Flounder occur in the Northwest Atlantic from northern Newfoundland to the lower part of the Chesapeake Bay. There are three New England management areas for Yellowtail Flounder, and all three populations are overfished with very low abundance. There are also three management areas in Canadian waters, with at least one population healthy in size. Bottom trawls are the primary fishing gear used to catch Yellowtail Flounder, which can substantially impact the seafloor and benthic community. There is a moderate amount of bycatch caught in the various Yellowtail Flounder fisheries.
Learn MoreGrouper, Gag - U.S.
In U.S. waters, Gag Grouper are found in the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico regions, being moderately abundant along the Atlantic coast but overfished in the Gulf. Similar to other grouper species, Gag Grouper are protogynous hermaphrodites, beginning their lives as females and becoming males as they grow larger. Females typically mature after 3 years and transition to males by 11 years of age. They are primarily caught with handlines, which causes minimal impact to the seafloor and results in moderate levels of bycatch.
Learn MoreGrouper, Red - U.S.
Red Grouper are found in the western Atlantic from Massachusetts to southern Brazil but are most commonly found along the west coast of Florida to the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. They are protogynous sequential hermaphrodites, meaning they begin life as females and transition to males between 7 and 16 years of age. Abundance of Red Grouper is healthy in the Gulf of Mexico and overfished in the U.S. South Atlantic. They are caught using bottom longlines and handlines, which have some impact on bottom habitat and catch moderate levels of bycatch.
Learn MoreHaddock
Haddock are mostly caught with habitat-damaging, high-bycatch bottom trawls off New England, Canada, Iceland, and Norway. Under heavy regulatory controls, some populations are now at healthy levels of abundance. However, fishing seems to have changed their life history, with Haddock maturing more rapidly than in the past. Because smaller, younger fish produce fewer eggs, this may impact population growth in years to come. Bycatch is a serious problem in some fisheries because many bottom dwellers are caught along with haddock including overfished cod.
Learn MoreLobster, Caribbean Spiny - Florida
Caribbean Spiny Lobsters grow fast, are highly fecund, and can live up to 20 years. Centered in Florida, fishing pressure on Caribbean Spiny Lobsters in U.S. waters is heavy. Caribbean Spiny Lobsters in Florida waters exhibit a truncated size structure and commercial catches in recent years have been below the long-term average. Fishers use traps to catch Caribbean Spiny Lobsters, resulting in minimal bycatch. Concerns exist, however, about the widespread use of undersized Spiny Lobsters, in lieu of other bait, in Spiny Lobster traps.
Learn MoreMahimahi - longline caught
With a life history strategy with high potential for resilience to fishing pressure, supply of Mahimahi to the U.S. marketplace is primarily imports from modern industrial distant-water pelagic longline fleets from Asia and from coastal longline fleets from the eastern tropical Pacific. Bycatch of marine turtles and seabirds is a concern. Pirate pelagic longline vessels, flying flags of convenience, with many owners based in Taiwan, is a large concern. Little is known about Mahimahi abundance status and trends.
Learn MoreMonkfish Anko, Ankimo
Monkfish grow slowly but mature quickly and are typically found in dense aggregations on mud and sand bottoms along the Atlantic coast of the U.S and Canada. They were traditionally caught as bycatch and discarded until the 1980s when market demand first grew in Asia and Europe, and later in North America. Monkfish were considered “overfished” for many years but through good management their abundance is now at moderate levels. Many fisheries in New England and the Mid-Atlantic catch Monkfish, but the majority are caught in gillnet and bottom-trawl fisheries. Bottom trawling can damage the seafloor.
Learn MorePlaice, American
American Plaice are flatfish that live on both sides of the Atlantic. They grow slowly, reach sexual maturity between 3 to 7 years of age and can live to 30 years of age. American Plaice live on the seafloor and are caught using bottom trawls, which damages benthic habitat. Abundance of American Plaice is very low overall, particularly in Canadian waters where they are considered overfished. Management measures by the U.S and Canada are slowly increasing the abundance of American Plaice in their waters.
Learn MoreRockfish - Alaska
Some rockfish species may survive to be over 100 years old, making them vulnerable to fishing pressure. Rockfish populations in Alaska are in better shape than their counterparts in California, Washington and Oregon. Still, some Alaskan rockfish species may be locally depleted. Trawl gear used to catch rockfish is destructive to rocky seafloors and living corals.
Learn MoreSalmon - California, Oregon, and Washington Sake, Ikura
Management of U.S. West Coast (California to Washington) salmon is comprehensive and catches are monitored to protect weak populations, but overall population abundance remains well below historical levels. Habitat degradation from dams, logging, and development pose serious problems for most salmon on the West Coast. There is concern over the possible adverse effects of salmon hatchery programs on wild salmon. Five salmon species are found on the U.S. west coast: Chinook (King), Coho (Silver), Sockeye (Red), Chum (Dog) and Pink (Humpback).
Learn MoreScallops, Icelandic
The aggregative and sedentary behaviors of Icelandic Scallops make their populations particularly vulnerable to fishing pressure. Despite fishery closures in some areas and other management efforts, populations of Icelandic Scallops are declining in the waters of all countries that fish for them commercially, including Canada and Iceland. Icelandic Scallops are caught with dredges, which damage the seafloor, especially the hard-bottom habitats where the scallops live.
Learn MoreScallops, Sea Hotate
Wild Sea Scallops were once overfished but have since recovered. With fishing pressure still high, recent management measures are controversial. Bottom dredges and trawls used to catch Sea Scallops inadvertently damage habitat, and there is unintended catch of endangered sea turtles and Atlantic Cod, Monkfish, flounders, and skates.
Learn MoreSea Bass, Black
Black Sea Bass are caught among rocky structures by both recreational and commercial fishers. They begin life as females and become males by the time they're five years old, a characteristic that has the potential to increase their vulnerability to fishing pressure. In the Mid-Atlantic, good management in recent years is helping Black Sea Bass recover and they're no longer overfished. In the South-Atlantic, however, Black Sea Bass are considered overfished and overfishing is still occurring.
Learn MoreShark, Sandbar - U.S.
The Sandbar Shark is a highly migratory global species found in warm-temperate and tropical waters. Sandbar Sharks, like many elasmobranchs, has a long life history pattern including a late age at sexual maturity, a long gestation period and few young. These life history patterns commonly make elasmobranch species highly susceptible to overfishing. In the Northwestern Atlantic Ocean, Sandbar Sharks have been the primary target of the bottom longline fishery and have recently been categorized as both overfished and undergoing overfishing. New species-specific regulations have recently been put into place in an effort to restore their population size to sustainable levels.
Learn MoreShrimp - Southeastern U.S.
Five species of shrimp are commercially caught from southeastern United States, including White Shrimp, Brown Shrimp, Pink Shrimp, Rock Shrimp, and Royal Red Shrimp. White, Brown, and Pink Shrimp are shallow water species and make up most of the commercial catch. All shrimp species are short-lived and produce many young. The abundances of shrimp vary according to environmental conditions and the fishery is well managed. Shrimp trawling damages benthic habitat and results in large amounts of bycatch, including commercially important fish species and threatened and endangered sea turtles. Implementation of bycatch reduction and turtle excluder devices has helped reduce the impact of trawling on non-target species. GULF OF MEXICO OIL SPILL: approximately one-third of the Gulf of Mexico has been closed for commercial fishing due to the oil spill. The impacts on shrimp populations are unknown at this stage but could be severe. BOI is monitoring the situation and will update this report once more information is known.
Learn MoreSnapper, New Zealand Tai
Snapper are found in subtropical regions of the western Pacific Ocean including New Zealand, Australia, China and Japan. In New Zealand, Snapper are a commercially important fishery. Due to prudent fisheries management, most Snapper populations in New Zealand are stable or recovering from their previously overfished status. Juvenile Snapper inhabit muddy estuaries, while adults mostly inhabit rocky reefs, but are also found in mud and seagrass habitats. Most New Zealand Snapper are caught using longlines, which can result in the incidental catch of seabirds.
Learn MoreSwordfish - Pacific Ocean
While the abundance of Swordfish in the North Pacific appears to be high, the status of the species is unknown throughout the rest of the Pacific ocean. Management throughout the Pacific is inadequate. Most swordfish are longline-caught, with catches large numbers of seabirds.
Learn MoreTrout, Rainbow
Some problems with farming this species exist. Feed for Rainbow Trout contains relatively large amounts of fishmeal and fish oil. Most Rainbow Trout farms in the U.S. use freshwater flow-through systems and discharge partially treated water into nearby waters. Rainbow Trout are native to the Pacific Northwest where the majority of U.S. farms are located.
Learn MoreTuna, Bigeye - longline caught Maguro
Bigeye Tuna grow reasonably fast and can live for 10 years, reaching a weight exceeding 200 kg (440 lbs). Female Bigeye Tuna are very fecund, and can release millions of eggs each year. Bigeye Tuna are found throughout the world's tropical and sub-tropical oceans, with populations in the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Bigeye Tuna have a medium abundance overall; however, some populations are healthier than others. Globally longline vessels catch 15% of all tuna species including Bigeye Tuna. Longlines catch large numbers of unwanted species or bycatch, including billfish, sharks, seabirds, and sea turtles.
Learn MoreTuna, Pacific Bluefin - purse seine caught Kuro maguro
Pacific Bluefin Tunas are prized on the sashimi market and are mainly fished by Japanese vessels. Pacific Bluefin Tuna are typically found in the Western Pacific around Japan, in the central North Pacific and in the Eastern Pacific off Baja California. They migrate across the Pacific Ocean, from their spawning grounds in the western Pacific to the eastern Pacific. Purse seining is one of three fishing methods commonly used to catch Pacific Bluefin Tuna and generally results in low bycatch and habitat damage. Pacific Bluefin Tuna are at low levels of abundance.
Learn MoreTuna, Pacific Bluefin - troll caught Kuro maguro
Pacific Bluefin Tunas are commonly caught by troll fishing, which has very low levels of bycatch and causes no habitat damage. They are typically found in the North Pacific, and can travel huge distances from their spawning grounds in the western Pacific to the eastern Pacific. Pacific Bluefin Tuna are fished for by many countries including Japan, USA and Mexico, and they are prized on the sashimi market. Due to high demand and market value, fishing pressure is too high and Pacific Bluefin Tuna are uncommon.
Learn MoreTuna, Southern Bluefin - longline caught Minamimaguro
Southern Bluefin Tuna have been over exploited for decades and the current abundance is very low. They have a high value on the Japanese sashimi market, where they are often used interchangeably with other Bluefin Tunas. Japan has the largest longline fleet targeting Southern Bluefin Tuna. The percentage of the catch taken by longlines has decreased from about 80% in 1980 to about 50% today. Southern Bluefin Tunas inhabit the cold waters of the southern Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans, with the majority caught in the Indian Ocean. Spawning occurs south-east of Java in the Indian Ocean, where Southern Bluefin tunas release millions of eggs per spawning event. Southern Bluefin Tunas do not reach sexual maturity until at least 8 years of age and can reach lengths of 245 cm and weight up to 260 kg.
Learn MoreTuna, Yellowfin - longline caught Maguro
Yellowfin Tuna reach sexual maturity at a younger age (about 3 years) than most other tunas and grow quickly. They produce millions of eggs per spawning, and can live up to 9 years. Yellowfin Tuna are found throughout the world's tropical and sub-tropical oceans, with one population occurring in each of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans and two in the Pacific (eastern and western and central). Abundance of Yellowfin Tuna varies among populations, but overall abundance is at a medium level. Globally longline vessels catch 15% of all tuna species including Yellowfin Tuna. Longline tuna fisheries catch large numbers of unwanted species or bycatch, including billfish, sharks, seabirds, sea turtles, and marine mammals.
Learn MoreWeakfish
Weakfish support important commercial and recreational fisheries along the Atlantic coast of the U.S. They are quick to mature and highly prized for their taste by seafood lovers and for their strong fighting behavior by anglers. Although many management measures are in place to conserve Weakfish, their abundance is at an all time low.
Learn MoreYellowtail - U.S. Hamachi
U.S. Yellowtail is farmed in net cages. Pollution concerns are generally low because cages are situated in areas of deeper water and strong currents, promoting the dispersal of waste. U.S. farmed Yellowtail are fed a diet containing moderate levels of fish meal and oil.
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Cod, Atlantic - Iceland
Atlantic Cod from Iceland can live for over 20 years and produce millions of eggs each year. After decades of intense fishing, Atlantic Cod are at low abundance in Icelandic waters and have been classed as “vulnerable” by the IUCN. Several fishing methods catch Atlantic Cod in Iceland, but most are caught by bottom trawls which cause considerable damage to the bottom habitat. Management measures imposed by the Icelandic government are aimed at reducing the number of large, spawning fish caught. Total Allowable Catch limits have been implemented and are revised annually based on the yearly estimates of spawning stock biomass. Bycatch is largely unknown, since cod are part of a mixed fishery effort in Iceland. Instead of Icelandic Cod, try Pacific cod or Lingcod instead.
Learn MoreConch, Queen
Many conch populations are at densities too low for successful reproduction to ensue. International agreements regulate the trade of conch shells, but fishery products are managed more locally, and the species remains threatened by overfishing and poaching throughout most of its range. The Turks and Caicos Islands are an exception; their strong regulations on how and where conch can be caught have kept populations there stable.
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Eel, American Unagi
American Eels may not reproduce until they are 20 years old, making them inherently vulnerable to fishing pressure. True abundance is unknown, but catches have decreased greatly over the last few decades. Using eel pots in coastal waters and nets in rivers, American eels are caught before they can reproduce, which further decreases their abundance. Although management plans are in place, there is inadequate scientific monitoring of populations.
Learn MoreFlounder, Witch
Witch Flounder are a species of flatfish found on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. They grow slower and live longer than most other flounder species. The overall abundance of Witch Flounder in U.S and Canadian waters is low, with some populations considered collapsed or overfished. Bottom trawls are used to catch Witch Flounder, which damages the sea floor and catches other uncommon flatfish species.
Learn MoreOctopus Tako
Although Octopus are wide-ranging and have short lifespans, some populations are declining due to heavy fishing pressure. Most Octopus are caught using bottom trawls, causing habitat damage and bycatch of unwanted wildlife. Management and monitoring of Octopus fisheries are weak in many countries.
Learn MoreRockfish - U.S. West Coast
There are over 60 species of rockfish found along the U.S. west coast, and many are important in commercial and recreational fisheries. Some rockfish species are overfished and the status of many others is unknown because of a lack of available information. Recovery plans introduced since the late 1990s are slowly helping vulnerable rockfish populations increase, but full recovery for the most depleted and slow growing species is not expected for many decades. Most rockfish are long-lived, late to mature, slow growing, and are affected by environmental factors such as warm ocean temperatures. This makes them especially vulnerable to fishing pressure and lengthens recovery time for overfished species.
Learn MoreShark, Mako - U.S. Atlantic
The Shortfin Mako Shark is a pelagic species found in temperate and tropical waters worldwide. Female Mako Sharks are long-lived, reach sexual maturity around 18 years of age and have an average litter size of 12 pups. Mako Sharks in the Atlantic Ocean are caught by pelagic longlines and the population is becoming “overfished”. Mako Sharks suffer from low productivity and high susceptibility to fishing and are therefore at a high risk for overexploitation.
Learn MoreShark, Spiny Dogfish - U.S. Pacific
Spiny Dogfish in U.S. Pacific waters are primarily caught off the coast of Washington. The groundfish Fishery Management Plans in the U.S. Pacific manage Spiny Dogfish under a group complex termed “other fishes”. There are no current assessments of their population status in these waters but there is evidence of biomass depletions in Washington’s inland marine waters. Spiny Dogfish are very vulnerable to overfishing because of their long life history.
Learn MoreSkate
The seven species of skate - Winter, Barndoor, Thorny, Little, Rosette, Clearnose and Smooth Skate - are managed both individually and collectively in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean. Skates are typically long lived, mature slowly and have low fecundity making them vulnerable to fishing pressure. Skates are most commonly caught in bottom otter trawls, which damage the seafloor. Larger skate species such as Winter and Thorny Skates are sold as “wings” for human consumption, while smaller species like Little Skate are used as fishing bait. The populations of Barndoor, Little, Clearnose, and Rosette Skates in the northwestern Atlantic are currently considered healthy, while Winter and Smooth skates are considered “overfished” and Thorny Skates are considered both “overfished” and undergoing “overfishing”.
Learn MoreSnapper, Red - U.S.
Red Snapper are found in the western Atlantic Ocean from North Carolina to northern South America, the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. Red Snapper are found around both natural and artificial structures like corals reefs and oil rigs. They grow slowly, reach sexual maturity around 3 years of age, and may live for over 50 years. Red Snapper are overfished throughout their range in US waters, with abundance levels 5-20% of what they should be. Red Snapper are typically caught by hook-and-line gear which has minimal impact to the seafloor. However, some Red Snapper are also caught using longlines, which can accidentally catch protected animals like sea turtles and sawfish.
Learn MoreTilapia - Asia
Tilapia are commonly farmed in Asia, particularly in China, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand. China produces about half of global Tilapia production, with the majority exported to the United States. Most Tilapia farmed in Asia are grown in net cages, which can allow fish to escape and compete with native species. In China, polyculture with carp and rice is common. Tilapia are generally farmed using a moderate amount of fishmeal and oil in their diet.
Learn MoreTilapia - Central and South America
Central and South American countries farm Tilapia in many different systems, including intensive (e.g. floating cages and raceways), semi-intensive (e.g. irrigation channels and ponds) and extensive systems (e.g. earthen ponds). Polyculture is common, particularly with white shrimp in an effort to reduce shrimp disease. Several Central and South American countries support the growth of aquaculture to promote employment and industry in rural areas, and as an alternative to fishing wild fish populations. Tilapia are farmed on diets containing moderate amounts of fish meal and oil.
Learn MoreTrout, Steelhead
Sea-going members of the Rainbow Trout species, Steelhead return to natal hatching grounds to spawn, with a small percentage surviving to reproduce more than once. Wild Steelhead populations have declined significantly due to overfishing and habitat loss. Commercial fishing for Steelhead in the U.S. has been restricted to Native American tribes for decades. Hatcheries supply the majority of the Steelhead these fishers catch.
Learn MoreTuna, Albacore - longline caught Bin'naga maguro
Albacore Tuna are highly fecund predators found throughout the world's temperate and tropical seas. Highly exploited in the North Atlantic, Albacore Tuna populations are at a medium to high level of abundance in other regions. The majority of the global Albacore Tuna supply is caught by longlines, which incidentally kill high numbers of seabirds, sea turtles, sharks, and other fish.
Learn MoreTuna, Pacific Bluefin - longline caught Kuro maguro
Pacific Bluefin Tunas are found in the Western Pacific around Japan, in the central North Pacific and in the Eastern Pacific off Baja California. They can swim vast distances, from their spawning grounds in the western Pacific to the eastern Pacific. Japan is the major fishing country for Pacific Bluefin Tuna where they are prized on the sashimi market. Their abundance is very low. Longlines are commonly used to catch Pacific Bluefin Tuna and while they cause little habitat damage they do catch a variety of bycatch species such as sea turtles, sharks and other fish.
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Caviar - Caspian Sea
With a lifespan up to 100 years, Beluga sturgeon are naturally vulnerable to fishing pressure. Poor management, overfishing, pollution, and habitat destruction have contributed to severe population declines of this and other Caspian Sea sturgeon species. The high value of caviar has posed a major obstacle to stemming illegal trade in caviar.
Learn MoreCaviar - U.S. and Canada
The wild sturgeon populations of the U.S. and Canada are suffering from overfishing and habitat degradation. Because these species are long-lived, and little is known about habitat requirements, recovery will be slow. Management is weak because coordination of management agencies is poor, and there is insufficient data on populations to determine sustainable catch levels.
Learn MoreCod, Atlantic - U.S. and Canada
Decades of overfishing have driven Atlantic Cod populations in the US and Canada to historic low levels. While some populations have shown signs of recovery in recent years, the overall recovery of Atlantic Cod has been variable and unstable. Management efforts in the US and Canada have improved in recent years, however, recovery is still expected to be slow for Atlantic Cod populations The main fishing method for Atlantic Cod is bottom trawling, which causes substantial damage to bottom habitats. Bycatch levels range greatly between fishing regions, with recent changes in management policy aiming to reduce the amount of bycatch.
Learn MoreEel, Freshwater Unagi
Most Freshwater Eel is farmed in net pens and ponds where waste is not treated before it's discharged, causing serious environmental pollution. Freshwater Eels can also escape from net pens, transferring diseases to wild populations. Freshwater Eels are highly carnivorous and require a high protein diet, consisting mostly of fish meal and oil. Because of their complex life history, farming is dependent on wild-caught juvenile or glass Eels, causing wild populations to decline.
Learn MoreHalibut, Atlantic Hirame
Atlantic Halibut can live for 50 years, grow to over 2.5 m in length, and weigh over 300 kg. They are found on both sides of the North Atlantic Ocean as well as some parts of the Arctic Ocean. Atlantic Halibut were once extremely abundant along the northeast U.S. and Canadian coastlines, but populations have crashed due to centuries of overfishing. Since the 1960's, abundance has been historically low and Atlantic Halibut have been virtually eliminated from many areas where they once occurred. In Canada, Atlantic Halibut are taken in bottom longlines with most of these fish sold in the U.S. There is currently no directed fishery in the U.S. and all landings occur as bycatch in groundfish fisheries. Management plans have been largely ineffective as most populations remain considerably depleted. Instead of Atlantic Halibut, try Pacific Halibut.
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Orange Roughy
Orange Roughy are a long-lived, late maturing species with relatively low fecundity. After being heavily fished over the last 30 years, abundance is less than 30% of the estimated virgin biomass for most populations. Caught exclusively by deep-sea trawling, habitat damage is substantial in fished areas, including sensitive habitats on seamounts. Fishery management has closed some areas to bottom trawling; however, slow-growing species like coral will take decades to recover fully. Bycatch of finfish is low to moderate because fisheries target large Orange Roughy aggregations.
Learn MoreOreos
Smooth and Black Oreos are slow to mature and are extremely long-lived fishes, qualities which make them vulnerable to overfishing. Most reported catches occur in New Zealand, where they are in low levels of abundance in some areas. They aggregate around seamounts, and the bottom trawls used to fish for Oreos cause extensive damage to their benthic habitats.
Learn MoreSalmon, Atlantic - farmed Sake, Ikura
Worldwide production of farmed Atlantic Salmon is around 1 million tonnes which represents over 50% of global salmon production. Japan, Europe and North America are the major markets for Atlantic Salmon, and Chile was the most rapidly growing supplier of Atlantic Salmon until a disease outbreak in 2007. The majority of Atlantic Salmon consumed in the U.S. is farmed in Canada and Maine, with smaller amounts from Norway. Atlantic Salmon are typically farmed at high stocking densities in net pens, where antibiotics and vaccines are commonly used to treat infected fish. Because net pens are open to the environment, fecal material and uneaten food can pollute the surrounding area reducing quality water and impact animals that live on the seafloor. Regulations for salmon farming vary greatly between countries and are in some cases non-existent.
Learn MoreSea Bass, Chilean
Often named Chilean Sea Bass, high demand for this long-lived fish drives depletion and creates an incentive for illegal and unregulated fishing. Incidental catch of seabirds in Toothfish longlines jeopardizes populations of albatrosses and petrels. The small South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands fishery for Patagonian Toothfish has been certified as environmentally sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council.
Learn MoreShark, imported
Sharks are susceptible to overfishing because of their K-selected life history characteristics, which include slow growth rates, late age at sexual maturity and small reproductive potential. There is no international management in place for shark fisheries and few individual countries worldwide are working to maintain healthy shark populations. A lack of long-term data sets on shark catches and discards has hindered scientists’ ability to determine the status of shark populations throughout the world. Sharks are caught in a variety of fishing gears, including longline, gillnet, purse seine and trawl and these gears have various degrees of impact on habitat and bycatch interactions. The US does not require species specific reporting of imported shark species so this report gives a general background on species of sharks commonly used for consumption.
Learn MoreShrimp - imported farmed Ebi
The production of imported farm-raised shrimp - supplied almost entirely by developing nations in tropical regions - destroys critical managrove and coastal habitat and introduces chemical and biological wastes into sensitive environments. Raised at high stocking densities, farm-raised shrimp frequently suffer from disease and are given large quantities of antibiotics and chemicals. Shrimp feed contains high amounts of fish meal and farmers frequently collect larval and juvenile shrimp from the wild.
Learn MoreShrimp - imported wild caught Ebi
Bottom trawls used to catch most imported shrimp damage benthic habitat and result in large amounts of bycatch, including commercially important fish species and endangered sea turtles. Tropical shrimp trawl fisheries lack adequate management and enforcement. Essentially annual crops, imported shrimp species are short-lived and highly fecund, although information on their abundance is lacking.
Learn MoreTuna, Atlantic Bluefin Kuro maguro/Hon maguro
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna is the largest tuna species and one of the largest fish in our oceans, growing to 700 kg and over 4 m in length. At least three populations exist in the Atlantic (western and eastern) and Mediterranean Sea and after decades of exploitation all populations are considered overfished. The overall abundance of Atlantic Bluefin tuna is at a critical level and effective management and conservation goals are needed to protect the remaining fish. Fishers use surface gears, typically rod and reel, longlines and purse-seines to target this highly valuable species. Little is known about bycatch associated with directed Atlantic Bluefin Tuna purse-seine fisheries, but tuna longline fisheries catch high numbers of finfish, sea turtles, and seabirds.
Learn MoreYellowtail - Japanese farmed Hamachi
Japanese amberjack, also known as yellowtail, is one of the most economically important marine species farmed in Japan. Its high quality meat is sold as sashimi in Japan and around the world. Japanese amberjack farming can cause substantial water quality impacts in areas of intensive farming. The fish is farmed in net cages with little or no treatment of effluent, which has been linked to localized pollution and damaging red tide episodes. Farmers also feed raw fish to large individuals, increasing waste accumulation and further degrading water quality. The biggest concern in farming practices is the dependence on wild juveniles called mojako to stock farms. The abundance of mojako has fluctuated in recent years, threatening the longterm viability of Japanese amberjack farming and the wild population it depends on. However, research is underway to improve the quality of feed, raise the fish in a less polluting system, and improve the success of hatchery-raised fish, which may improve the environmental effects in the coming decades.
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