US North Pacific sablefish
Certified as sustainable in May 2006. Entered re-assessment in May 2010.
Summary
Species: Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria)
Location: Alaska, USA
Fishing methods: Longline
Number of fisheries: 1
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Download Fishers' stories - Net Benefits 2009 - US North Pacific sablefish (PDF, 200kb)
More about sablefish
Sablefish, also known as black cod, inhabit the northeastern Pacific Ocean from northern Mexico to the Gulf of Alaska, westward to the Aleutian Islands and into the Bering Sea. Adult sablefish occur along the continental slope, shelf gullies and in deep fjords, generally at depths greater than 200 metres. Sablefish grow rapidly during their first several years, reaching an average maximum length of and weight of 70cm and 3.4kgs respectively.
More about the fishing methods
Sablefish is caught by longline, a fishing technique where hundreds or thousands of baited hooks branching from a single line are used. Sablefish are targetted through longlines that are set along the ocean bottom in preferred sablefish habitat.
Fishery tonnage
18,100 metric tonnes
Commercial market
The primary market is Japan, but the US market has been increasing over the past few years.
