Yellowtail amberjack

Seriola quinqueradiata

Japanese amberjack, Yellowtail, amberjack

1) What is it?

Yellowtail amberjack (Seriola quinqueradiata ) is a fast swimming pelagic carnivorous fish that is endemic to Japan and surrounding areas. It spawns along the 200m contour in the East China Sea.

How was it caught or farmed?

Farmed – Sea cages

Stationery uncovered pound nets

Yellowtail amberjack are caught using stationery uncovered pound nets. These operate by trapping fish inside a static and open netting structure. This fishing method is likely to impact some ETP species, in particular marine mammals such as the local (sub)-population of the common minke whale Discards of this fishery are thought to be low and most of the specimens are released alive. This fishing method generally causes minimal damage to the seafloor, however in regions that contain vulnerable species such as seagrassess and corals some impact is possible Juvenile catches in this fishery are high.

Purse seine

Yellowtail amberjack is caught using purse seine nets. Impact on ETP is unknown but thought to be likely. Specific information on Japanese purse-seiners on ETP species is not directly available. . Discard rate are estimated to be low and survival is thought to be. Percentage of juvenile and by catch caught by purse-seiners is unknown but thought to be high. There is no impact of purse-seines on the bottom habitat.

Where is it from?

Farmed – sea cages

Yellowtail amberjack is farmed in Japan and China (FAO 5) and imported into South Africa. Management is considered to be marginally effective with the main concern being around high degree of waste discharges and poor levels of compliance and enforcement with aquaculture regulations There have been no reports of labour rights violations in recent years and no evidence of land user conflicts.

Purse seine

Yellowtail amberjack is caught in Japan EEZ (FAO 61) and imported into South Africa. Management is considered to be partly effective due to a lack of information on catches of ETP (Endangered, Threatened and Protected) species. . Some measures are in place to avoid IUU (Illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing) but the effectiveness is not known An Ecosystem Based Management approach is currently at state of implementation in Japan, however not yet fully effective

Stationery uncovered pound nets

Yellowtail amberjack is caught in Japan EEZ (FAO 61) and imported into South Africa. Management is considered to be partly effective due to concerns around impact on ETP (Endangered, Threatened and Protected) species. An ecosystem based management approach is currently at state of implementation in Japan, however not yet fully effective

DON'T BUY

Fishing Type: 3.Aquaculture (cages)

Origin: Imported - China

Yellowtail amberjack is farmed in special cages in China and Japan. As these cages are open to the ocean, waste (faeces, food, anti-fouling agents or medicine used to treat sea lice) is released directly into the surrounding water and may affect the environment. This could lead to an accumulation of faeces and excess food on the sea floor and an increase in the concentration of chemical contaminants.

THINK TWICE

Fishing Type: Stationary uncovered pound nets

Origin: Japan EEZ

Stationary uncovered pound nets consist usually of net walls anchored or fixed on stakes, reaching from the bottom to the surface. The nets are open at the surface and include various types of fish herding and retaining devices. They are mostly divided into chambers closed at the bottom by netting.

Fishing Type: Purse seine

Origin: Japan EEZ

Purse-seine nets are set around a school of fish at the ocean surface or in the mid-water. Once the fish are surrounded, the bottom of the net is closed by a footrope. Incidental bycatch of non-target species can be an issue and typically makes up 5% to 30% of the catch. Purse seine nets have little impact on bottom habitats.

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