The photos show the process of smoked catfish in an attempt to study the market potential of the smoked product. African catfish enjoys desirable production characteristics especially its high growth rate and the extreme tolerance to the adverse environmental conditions. However, the marketing of African catfish is not as hoped. The reason of the low-moderate consumer acceptance to catfish goes to negative image of major segment of consumers on catfish as they may believe –by mistake- that these fish are caught from bad/polluted habitats. This faulty assumption is based on the high tolerance and ability to survive in environments that are usually devoid from other fish species. The added value products (e.g. smoked) as well as product labeling is believed to provide an avenue for promoting the consumption and production of catfish in Egypt. The outcome of the taste panel of this smoked trial is encouraging and could be useful towards the commercialization of smoked catfish.
Note: We decided not to watermark the photos in order not to upset its clarity. However, we trust you will notify us if you wish to use a picture or more. This is expected and will be appreciated.
Even though the introduction of common carp (mirror carp strain), Cyprinus carpio into Egypt goes back to several decades in an attempt to promote Egyptian aquaculture, the contribution of common carp to aquaculture remained low. The modest consumer acceptance to common carp –compared to favorite species; tilapia- was behind the low profile of common carp aquaculture in Egypt. The intramuscular bones in the flesh of carp have been a key cause behind the less consumer acceptance. Added value carp product is believed to promote the marketing and consumption bottlenecks. The photos show the smoking trial of common carp which was followed by taste feedbacks whereas the outcomes came positive. Until present, there is no attempt to commercialize the piloting outcomes.
Note: We decided not to watermark the photos in order not to upset its clarity. However, we trust you will notify us if you wish to use a picture or more. This is expected and will be appreciated.
Credit: Anna Jamil (Indonesia) Description: Abdel Rahman El Gamal and Anna Jamil Source: www.fishconsult.org
This photo for otak-otak was taken in a fish market in Indonesia. The product is a type of added value fish product that is popular for people across Southeast Asia especially in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
In Indonesia, the otak-otak is made by mixing fish meat of most available fish in the province whether freshwater or salt water fish including king mackerel, feather-back fish or others. Fish paste is mixed –according to consumer preference- with shallots, garlic, scallions, egg, coconut milk, and sago flour along with selected spices. The mixture is then wrapped in a banana leaf that has been softened by steaming before being lightly grilled or steamed. While fish otak-otak is the most common type, there are other varieties that exist in Asian markets made with prawns, cuttlefish, crabs or fish head.
Otak.Otak means brain in Indonesian and Malay, and the name of the dish is derived from the idea that the product somewhat resembles brains, being grey, soft and almost squishy.
The main Indonesian cities famous for their otak-otak are Palembang, Jakarta and Makassar.
The prepared product which is commonly sold in small stalls can be eaten as a snack or could be bought and prepared at home and eaten as a as part of the meal.
Note: We decided not to watermark the photos in order not to upset its clarity. However, we trust you will notify us if you wish to use a picture or more. This is expected and will be appreciated.
Video credit: Glenda Vélez Calabria (Colombia) Description: Abdel Rahman El Gamal
This video was taken in mundo marino and te mostramos lo que pasa en el fondo, Colombia Source: www.fishconsult.org
Introduction: Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus is a species of spiny lobster that inhabits tropical and subtropical waters and has a broad geographic range from Bermuda and east coast USA, Brazil, including the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. The species has several common names for the species including spiny lobster, Bermuda spiny lobster, common spiny lobster, Florida spiny lobster, West Indian langouste, West Indian spiny lobster, Langouste Blanche (in French) and Langosta Común del Caribe (in Spanish). Even though individuals of 20 years have been recorded, the species longevity is about 12 years. The Caribbean spiny lobster is a nocturnal species.
Habitats: Individuals of the Caribbean spiny lobster can be found at depths of about 30 m or even greater based on the seasonal variation in the water temperature. They could also be found in shallower tropical and sub-tropical waters. In general, they prefer habitats with some sort of cover such as coral reefs, artificial reefs, seagrass, sponges, which serve also as shelters.
Reproduction and life history: Sexual maturity in females is reached at about 2 years as their length of carapace measures about 54–80 mm. The spawning occurs when water temperature exceeds 23 °C. The size at maturity may vary with localities; estimates for size at 50% maturity were found 81 mm in Cuba and to 92 mm in Colombia. Caribbean spiny lobsters, Panulirus argus, are characterized by external fertilization in which the males pass a thick spermatophore to the females that fertilize their eggs. Fertilized eggs are externally carried by the female until they become hard and black. At this stage, the females deposit their eggs in protected places where they hatch into free-swimming microscopic phyllosoma larvae.
After series of molts, the larvae migrate and settle and live in algae, seagrass beds, among mangrove roots or holes or crevices in the coral reefs. This species molts about four times/year whereas the timing of moulting is affected by water temperature. Typically, the adults of this lobster are of about 10 cm from the tip of the antennae to the tail. However, individuals may reach about 45 cm with a weight of about 4.5 kg after a longer period of about 20 years. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism whereas male lobster grows faster than females.
Defense mechanisms: The spines that cover the lobster’s shell are the primary defense of the species against possible predators. When the spiny lobsters are attacked, the whole group will come together in a defensive front and stick their spiny antennae straight up at the predator. These lobsters also use their antennae in making a rough noise to keep predators away. Caribbean spiny lobsters are highly vulnerable to predation during their molting and they preyed upon by skates, nurse sharks, octopus, snappers, moray eels, and groupers.
Food habits: Caribbean spiny lobsters feed primarily on gastropods, chitons, bivalves, detritus, vegetable material, dead animals and fish whenever available on the ocean floor. The species is nocturnal as they hide during the day from predators while at night; they come out to search for food. Using powerful mouths they break open shellfish and sea urchins for food.
Fishery, economic importance, and consumption: Caribbean spiny lobsters, is a popular seafood item for human consumption. It is also the most important food export of the Bahamas. While divers catch the lobster by a gloved hand, in commercially fishing, the lobsters are caught with baited traps. Because of the high market value of the spiny lobster, the species has been under the threat of over-exploitation whether for recreation or for the commercial fishery. It is estimated that the catch of the species has declined by about 50% in the Caribbean. This has called for conservation measures. Conservation action: Applied governing regulations vary and could include any or all of the minimum size upon harvest, closed season for safeguarding the reproduction and the protection of offsprings. The prohibition of the taking of berried females has been often enforced.
References: Wikipedia, IUCN, Natural History Museum, and Marinebio
Credit: Anna Jamil (Indonesia) Description: Abdel Rahman El Gamal and Anna Jamil
Source: www.fishconsult.org
This photo shows the display of black pomfret, Parastromateus niger in a fish market in Indonesia. Black pomfret (Bawal hitamis in Indonesia) is found and caught in the near shore shallow waters in Indo-West Pacific region from East Africa to southern Japan and Australia and most abundant on the west coast of India and Indonesia. The populations of black pomfret form large schools at depth ranges 20-100 meters in coastal areas with muddy substrate. Black pomfret which come from marine fisheries are primarily caught with seines, gillnets and trawls. Additional types of fishing gear include traps and bag nets. Indonesia is the top producer of black pomfret followed by Thailand and Malaysia.
Black pomfret which is often marketed as pompano is marketed fresh, dried or salted and sometime frozen. This species has a light texture and sweet, rich flavor. Because of the high fat content of black pomfret, butterfish is an alternative name.
Note: We decided not to watermark the photos in order not to upset its clarity. However, we trust you will notify us if you wish to use a picture or more. This is expected and will be appreciated.
Credit of the video: Glenda Vélez Calabria (Colombia) Description: Abdel Rahman El Gamal This video was taken in mundo marino and te mostramos lo que pasa en el fondo, Colombia Source: www.fishconsult.org
Introduction: The blowfish belongs to the “Tetraodontidae” family which includes more than 120 species that occur worldwide. Most of blow fish species are found in tropical and subtropical ocean waters. Although this group is primarily marine and estuarine fish, some fish species live in brackish and even freshwater. Other common names include puffers, swellfish, globefish and toadfish. They are typically small to medium in size, although a few species can reach lengths of greater than 100 centimetres. Blow fish live from 5 to 10 years.
Description and distinctive characteristics: As the family name tells, the species is characterized by four “tetra” teeth “dontinidae” which fused together into a prominent beak. The species have hidden spines which become only visible when fish are puffed up. The eyes of blowfish move independently from one another.
Distribution and habitats: The majority of blowfish lives in salt water and prefers warm, tropical seas or estuaries. Some species live in freshwater environments while a few others are suitable for aquariums. While the group is most diverse in the tropics, they are not common in the temperate zone and completely absent from cold waters.Food habits: Blowfish feed on algae, crustaceans, mollusks and red worms. The four large teeth with the hard peak are used for crushing the shells of crustaceans and mollusks.
Reproduction: The spawning of puffers occurs after males slowly push females to the water surface or join females already present. The eggs are spherical and buoyant. Hatching occurs into tiny fry after about four days. As the blowfish fry mature, they move closer to the shore and become adults.
Natural defenses: The puffer’s distinctive natural defenses help make up for the slow swimming of the fish. The ability of the fish for a sudden evasive as well as the excellent eyesight allows fish to maneuver and avoid predators. The pointed spines after fish inflation with water resulted that fish will turn inedible to possible predators.Poisoning: Puffer fish are considered the second most poisonous vertebrates in the world (after the golden poison frog). The first recorded instance of blowfish poisoning was from Captain James Cook’s 1774 excursion to New Caledonia. It is believed that the toxicity of tetrodotoxin to humans is hundred times more than cyanide with no known cure.
Puffer poisoning usually results from the consumption of incorrectly prepared puffer soup, or from raw meat (sashimi fugu). Because the levels of toxins vary from a specimen to another and from a season to season as well as from a location to another, the effects that results from the consumption of puffers vary from light-headedness up to death passing by numbness of the lips, dizziness, vomiting, rapid heart rate, decreased blood pressure, and muscle paralysis. It may worth noting that this neurotoxin is found primarily in the liver and ovaries, although smaller amounts and traces exist in the intestines and skin, as well in muscle. Interestingly, the poisoning does not always have a lethal effect on large predators, such as sharks, and lizard fish.
Utilization: Regardless the poisoning risk associated with the consumption of blowfish, this does not deter them from being considered a delicacy and expensive sushi dish in Korea and Japan (bok; sashimi fugu). However, only licensed and trained chefs should be the authorized ones to prepare these dishes. However, for various reasons, the poisoning continues to threat the like of people who are not aware about the whole thing or who could not carry out safe preparation for the fish.
This video was taken in Monterey Bay Aquarium, California, USA.
Video and text ownership: Abdel Rahman El Gamal
Source: www.fishconsult.org
Introduction: The weedy seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus, is the only member of the genus Phyllopteryx and family Syngnathidae which is also known as common seadragon or Lucas’ Sea-dragon. The family includes also seahorses, pipefish and pipe horses.
Weedy seadragons are one of only two living species of seadragons, the second is known as the leafy seadragon (Phycodurus eques). The weedy seadragons can live for up to 10 years in the wild. The species has been selected as marine emblem of the Australian State of Victoria since 2002.
Distribution and habitats: The weedy seadragon is endemic to the southern Australian temperate marine waters. It occurs in the coastal waters from Port Stephens in New South Wales down to the southern coast of Australia including Tasmania, and up to Geraldton in Western Australia.
This weedy seadragon inhabits variety of habitats including shallow waters of depths of relatively shallow water to up to 50 meters deep whereas the weedy seadragon generally inhabits kelp-covered rocky reefs, seaweed beds, and seagrass meadows.
Description: The Common Seadragon has a long pipe-like snout with a small terminal mouth. Adults of seadragons usually are reddish in color with yellow spots and purple markings. They have leaf-like appendages which occur along their body that provide camouflage as well as a number of short spines for protection. Males have narrower bodies and are darker than females whose bodies are deeper and compressed. Seadragons have a long dorsal fin along the back and small pectoral fins on either side of the neck, which provide balance. Weedy seadragons reach up to approximately 45cm in length with an average length of about 30 cm. It may worth mentioning that weedy seadragons are easily injured during handling.
Reproduction: As with sea horses, seadragon males are responsible for developing eggs and childbearing although seadragons males do not have pouch for rearing the young. Sexual maturity of weedy seadragon is often reached within two years. During mating, females deposit around 120-300 eggs onto a spongy brood patch located on the underside of the male’s tail. The eggs are fertilized during the transfer to the male whereas fertilized eggs are incubated by the male for 4-6 weeks before the miniature seadragons of about 2.5 centimeters are released into the water. The hatching takes place of a period of about six days. The young are independent upon as they begin feeding shortly after birth. The successful breeding of the Weedy Seadragon in captivity took place in several in the world especially in USA (including the Monterey Bay Aquarium) and in Australia.
Food habits and predation: Seadragons feed mainly on tiny crustaceans such as mysids and sea lice. Their snouts are equipped with special muscles which enable widening the snout and hence capturing different sizes of food and passing it into their toothless mouths.
Behavior: These fish are poor swimmers and are drift in the water current and so washed ashore during storms which could lead to natural mortality. With their leaf-like appendages, they resemble the seaweed of their habitat providing the animals with excellent camouflage which fish relies on as protection against predation.
Threats: The major threat for weedy seadragon is the destruction of their habitats as represented in the decline of seagrass and kelp habitats as well as pollution. To a lesser extent, the international aquarium trade may contribute by a small proportion to such threats especially in the light of the difficulty in maintaining the weedy seadragon in aquariums. Moreover, there is no much demand on the species for other purposes. Added to that, the excellent camouflage the species enjoy protects the fish against possible predators. However, when all factors are combined with the natural history traits, the weedy seadragon population is considered at risk. According to IUCN, the species has been classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List 2006.
Conservation status: In Australia, some conservation measures are applied. These include the banning of fishing or exporting the species in most of the states. Also, the species has been declared protected in New South Wales and Tasmanian waters. Similarly, Weedy Seadragon is fully protected under the Victorian Fisheries Act 1995. Moreover, taking or possessing weedy seadragons is considered an offence whereas heavy penalties apply that ranges from significant fines and can reach three months in prison. More measures have been taken to prevent the damage to the habitats of the species.
References: References: National geographic, Wikipedia, Parks Victoria, Prime Facts, BBC Nature Wild Life, ARKIVE, Australian Museum
Credit of the video: Glenda Vélez Calabria (Colombia) Description: Abdel Rahman El Gamal
This video was taken in mundo marino and te mostramos lo que pasa en el fondo, Colombia Source: www.fishconsult.org
Introduction: Cobia, Rachycentron canadum, is the only species of the family Rachycentridae. Other common names for cobia include black kingfish, black salmon, lemonfish, and sergeant fish as well as cobie and bonito (in Spanish) and mafou (in French). Cobias are a popular recreational and commercial species. They reach lengths of 50-120 cm, with a maximum of 200 cm.
While cobias are more common at weights of up to 20s kg, there could be few heavier specimens which could reach up to 60 kg. Cobias grow quickly and have a moderately long life span. Cobias are intensely curious fish and show no fear of boats. Both cobia sexes have moderately long lives of 15 years or more.
Distinctive Description: The family name Rachycentridae, from the Greek words rhachis meaning “spine” and kentron meaning “sting,” is an allusion to these dorsal spines. On the jaws, tongue and roof of the mouth there are bands of villiform (fibrous) teeth. Cobias lack the air bladder. The large pectoral fins are normally carried horizontally, so that, as seen in the water they may be mistaken for a small shark.
Distribution and habitats: Cobia is distributed worldwide in tropical and subtropical warm-temperature seas, except for eastern Pacific. Cobias prefer water temperatures between 20 — 30 C and are found in various habitats: coral, rocky reefs, wrecks, harbors, buoys, anchored boats and other structures. Cobias are able to tolerate a wide range of temperatures (eurythermal) 1.6 and 32.2°C, and salinity (euryhaline) 5.0 – 44.5 ppt.
Feeding habits: Cobias are opportunistic and carnivore feeders. Their food consists of crabs (their favorite food), crustaceans, cephalopods, and small fishes such as mullet, eels, jacks, snappers, pinfish, croakers, grunts, and herring. Their predators of cobias are dolphin fish (Coryphaena hippurus) that is known to feed on immature cobia. Also, the shortfin mako sharks are known to feed on adult cobia.
Reproduction and life history: Cobias are pelagic spawners. During spawning which takes place diurnally, cobia broodstock release eggs and sperm into offshore open water and/or in estuaries and shallow bays? Eggs are buoyant, spherical of (1.2 mm in diameter). Fertilized eggs float freely with water currents until hatching that takes place after 24-36 hours after fertilization. The planktonic larvae develop their mouth and eyes in about 5-7 days and by then they become active feeders. Cobia females are batch spawners whereas females are capable of spawning up to 20 times during the spawning season with intervals of about one to two weeks. The fecundity estimates range from about 400,000 — 2 million eggs per batch.
Cobias (females and males) mature at the age of about 2 years. However, there are reports indicating that cobia males may mature at earlier age of one year. In general, all males would be mature by age 2, while most females mature at about 3 years and before the age of 4.
Utilization: Cobias are good food fish for human consumption and is typically marketed fresh, frozen, or smoked. Cobias enjoy a premium price for their firm texture and excellent flavor. Due to their solitary nature, cobias are usually caught in small quantities. In regard to recreation, Cobia is considered an excellent game fish. Cobias are also caught incidentally by shrimp trawlers.
Danger to Humans: Due to the sharp dorsal spines, care must be taken when handling these strong fish to avoid injury.
Aquaculture: Cobia, Rachycentron canadum, is considered one of the most suitable candidates for warm, open-water marine aquaculture in the world. Their rapid growth rate, as well as the high quality of the flesh makes cobia potentially one of the most important marine fish for future aquaculture production.
Currently, cobias are being cultured in nurseries and grow-out offshore cages in many parts of Asia, in US, Mexico and Panama. In Taiwan, 100–600 g cobias are cultured for 1–1.5 years to reach 6–8 kg in size which is suitable for export to Japan. Currently, around 80% of marine cages in Taiwan are devoted to cobia culture. China and Vietnam are actively engaged in cobia aquaculture.
References: Wikipedia, Oceanario de Lisboa, Marine fish identification portal
This short clip was taken at the Sea World, California, USA
Source: www.fishconsult.org – Video and text ownership: Abdel Rahman ElGamal
Introduction: The Napoleon fish, Cheilinus undulatus has more common names including humphead wrasse, humphead or Maori wrasse. This species one of the largest members of the family Labridae as well as all coral reef fishes in the world. The species can live for more than 30 years. Despite their large size, they are friendly with divers who approach their habitats in coral reefs.
Description: Males of Napoleon fish reach up to 2 m in length, while females rarely exceed about 1 m. The species has thick, oversize fleshy lips and a hump that forms on its head above the eyes, becoming more prominent as the fish ages. Males range in color from a bright electric blue to green, a purplish blue color while females are red-orange in color.
Distribution and habitats: The species is widely distributed on coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific. Adults are commonly found on the outer reef slope habitats. The juveniles tend to prefer a more cryptic existence in areas of dense branching corals, bushy macroalgae or seagrasses. The species is most often observed in solitary male-female pairs, or small groups. In general, they tend to move into somewhat deeper waters as they grow older and larger.
Feeding habits: Napoleon fish are opportunistic predators preying primarily on crustaceans, mollusks – particularly gastropods- fish, echinoderms. The tough teeth enable fish to crush shells of their prey. Napoleon fish can predate on toxic species such as crown of thorns starfish, boxfishes and sea hares. The ability to prey on thorns star fish, Acanthaster planci represents a significant support to coral reef ecosystem that is often threatened by starfish. Heavy shells are crushed with the tough pharyngeal teeth. Napoleon fish are active during the day and rest during night. Their large size means that they have no natural predators apart from large sharks.
Reproduction and life history: Individuals of Napoleon fish reach their sexual maturity in about 5 to 7 years. The species are protogynous hermaphrodites which mean that the individuals first are reproductively active as females and as they age to approximately 9 years old, adult females are known to change to adult males. Ready to mate fish migrate to the spawning areas whereas males are known to arrive first, to be joined later by females. Spawning which has been observed in several months is believed to be associated with certain tidal cycles but not with specific lunar phases. The sex ratio has been found to be about 10-15 females per male. The planktonic eggs are released into the water column and drift away from the spawning site. After hatching, the larvae stay in the water until they settle on the substrate. As the larvae grow, they move from shallow inshore waters to deeper offshore reef.
Threats: The high value of wild-caught live Napoleon fish in export trade, aquarium trade or for fattening in cages stand behind most of the threats facing this species which is considered a delicacy in parts of Asia, especially Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan. The high demands on this luxury fish led to overfishing and to applying hazardous fishing practices such as the use of sodium cyanide, dynamite or spears. The major of the international trade is in live fish although a small part is traded in a chilled form. The Mainland China and Hong Kong are major importers to Napoleon fish while exports are done by and through Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines. The listing of Napoleon fish under CITES Appendix II as well as endangered on the IUCN Red List reflect the status of this rare species.
Conservation measures: The biological characteristics of this species especially the longevity and slow breeding rate, indicates to the long time required before feeling the recovery of the species assuming that conservation measures are in place. Various measures have been adopted. The control measures have addressed the fishing and trading of the species. For example, fishing and exporting fish below 1 kg and above 3 kg has been banned in Indonesia. Moreover, total banning of fish catch was enforced in Australia. Specifying allowable catch size or the necessity to get fishing and/or export permit are examples of conservation measures. Emphasis has been placed on banning the use of cyanide in fishing while limiting the fishing method to the traditional fishing. Exceptions have been given to education, research and aquarium displays. The public campaigns reached the restaurants expressing the opposition to serving this endangered fish.
References:
Wikipedia
The Society for the Conservation of Reef Fish Aggregations,
The changing ocean
Yvonne Sadovy and Santi Suharti. Napoleon fish, Cheilinus undulatus, Indonesia
This short clip was taken at the Sea World, California, USA
Source: www.fishconsult.org Description: Abdel Rahman El Gamal
Introduction: The California yellowtail, Seriola lalandi has several common names including Yellowtail Kingfish, Amberjack, Yellowtail Amberjack and more names. The yellow caudal fin of the species is behind several of the common names. This fish has a distinctive golden brown stripe running laterally from the snout to the tail. While it is common to find fish of about 12 years, there are specimens of about 30 years of age. Yellowtail is a highly prized game fish.
Description: The species are long with streamlined bodies of greenly blue color on the dorsal surface shading to silvery white beneath. Fish fins are yellowish. The Yellowtail Kingfish can grow up to 2.5 m as total length and can weigh up to 70 kg with records close to 100 kg. However, most caught off piers are fish under 5 kg in weight.
California yellowtail are solitary or they may occur in small groups. The schools of juveniles are generally found in offshore waters, often near or beyond the continental shelf. The species is a powerful swimmer that is adapted to a pelagic life style and hence is prized by anglers.
These fish are equipped with sensory cells (neuromasts) which are located separately on fish body surface or in lateral line canals. This sensory system gives fishes a distant touch sense, and enables the detection and reaction to moving items in the water and coordinates fish movements during the schooling.
Distribution and habitats: The Yellowtail Kingfish are widely distributed in tropical and temperate waters of the southern hemisphere and the northern Pacific. The species prefers warmer water (18-24°C) although they are occasionally found in cooler water. The Yellowtail Kingfish is a pelagic, schooling fish, usually seen as adults in small to large numbers. In general they inhabit rocky reefs and adjacent sandy areas in coastal waters and occasionally enter estuaries. They are found from shallow water down to depths of around 50 m, although have been caught from over 300 m.
Feeding Habits: California Yellowtail are opportunistic and carnivore daytime feeders. The feed on variety of species whereas sardines, anchovies, mackerels, squid, crab, and smelts are common in the yellowtail’s diet. California yellow tail feeds predominantly in the morning and late afternoon.
Reproduction and life history: Yellowtail fish becomes sexually mature at about 2-3 years of age. California Yellowtail form spawning aggregations in offshore waters which makes them vulnerable to fishermen gears. Young brood female may spawn only once during the spawning season while older females spawn several times during the spawning season. Fecundity as calculated as number of eggs/female increases with the female size and would range from about 400,000 up to about 4 million eggs for larger/older fish of about 15-kg female. It may worth mentioning that the hatchery technology has been developed where the farming of the species does exist.
California yellow tail aquaculture: The rapid growth rate of California yellowtail coincided by the high demand stimulated the investments in aquaculture projects. Fish can reach marketable size of 3 kg in 12–15 months. California yellowtail, Seriola lalandi proved to be a suitable candidate for marine aquaculture. Because the juveniles of California yellowtail are not easily available from the wild, hatchery produced juveniles are produced for aquaculture projects whereas the largest operations do exist in Australia. Aquaculture initiatives have been attempted in cages and land-based systems in New Zealand supported by hatchery-produced fingerlings. Japan is the key importer and consumer of California yellowtail whereas the species is also cultured and consumed as sashimi.
Conservation measures: Even though it does not seem there is serious conservation measures applied to the species, the species overfishing called for some governing regulations especially related to the commercial fishery of California yellowtail. For example, minimum size of caught yellow tail has been stated to be 70 cm. Moreover, the catch limit of the species has been limited to 200 kg/person during the period from May 1st through August 1st which coincides with the spawning season. The regulation is applied also to the California recreational fishery, there is a 10 fish bag limit, and 5 of these fish must be larger than 60 cm. In general, it is believed that most world fishery resources are largely unregulated.
