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Seafood Watch - Seafood Guide

Red Snapper

© Monterey Bay Aquarium
SEAFOODRATINGMARKET NAMESWHERE CAUGHTHOW CAUGHT
Gray Snapper Good Alternative: These are good alternatives to the best choices column. There are some concerns with how they are fished or farmed – or with the health of their habitats due to other human impacts. Uku, Utu, Jobfish Hawaii Wild-caught
Gray, Lane, Mutton, Yellowtail Snapper Good Alternative: These are good alternatives to the best choices column. There are some concerns with how they are fished or farmed – or with the health of their habitats due to other human impacts. Gray Silk, Mangrove, Rainbow Snapper U.S. Wild-caught
Pink Snapper Good Alternative: These are good alternatives to the best choices column. There are some concerns with how they are fished or farmed – or with the health of their habitats due to other human impacts. 'Opakapaka, Palu-enaena Hawaii Hook-and-line
Red Snapper Avoid: Avoid these products for now. These fish come from sources that are overfished or fished or farmed in ways that harm the environment. Mule Sow, Rat, Tai, American Red Snapper U.S. Gulf of Mexico Wild-caught
Red Snapper Avoid: Avoid these products for now. These fish come from sources that are overfished or fished or farmed in ways that harm the environment. Red Snapper, American Red Snapper, Night Snapper, Tai Imported Wild-caught
Red Snapper/Squirrelfish Snapper Good Alternative: These are good alternatives to the best choices column. There are some concerns with how they are fished or farmed – or with the health of their habitats due to other human impacts. Ehu, 'Ula'ula, Palu-malau, Tai Hawaii Hook-and-line
Ruby Snapper/Longtail Snapper Good Alternative: These are good alternatives to the best choices column. There are some concerns with how they are fished or farmed – or with the health of their habitats due to other human impacts. Onaga, 'Ula'ula koa'e Hawaii Hook-and-line
Silk Snapper Good Alternative: These are good alternatives to the best choices column. There are some concerns with how they are fished or farmed – or with the health of their habitats due to other human impacts. Silky Snapper, Yellow-eyed Snapper U.S. Gulf of Mexico, U.S. South Atlantic, U.S. Caribbean Wild-caught
Vermilion Snapper Avoid: Avoid these products for now. These fish come from sources that are overfished or fished or farmed in ways that harm the environment. Beeliners, Night Snappers U.S. Wild-caught


Snapper, Red (GOM and Imported)

Red snapper is in decline worldwide, and fishing pressure on this species is excessive, which means it's on our "Avoid" list.

Consumer Note

Buyer beware! West Coast rockfishes are often marketed as Pacific red snapper, and should be avoided due to concerns about the way they are caught. Red snapper is known as tai when prepared for sushi. Several other species including tilapia, red sea bream and red porgy are also marketed as tai.

Summary

The largest U.S. fishery for "true" red snapper is in the Gulf of Mexico. Although management measures are in place, the U.S. has not been able to prevent significant population declines of red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico. This population is considered overfished and still undergoing overfishing.

Red snapper is also often caught accidentally in the nets of shrimp fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico. These shrimp fisheries are attempting to reduce accidental catch of snapper, especially the young fish, and there is a management plan that aims to return snapper populations back to healthy and abundant levels. However, this is predicted to take until at least 2032.

Much of the snapper imported into the U.S. comes from Brazil and Mexico. Limited information on snapper from other countries suggests that snapper may also be overfished in many other regions of the world and therefore are also on the "Avoid" list.

Recipe Alternatives
Pollock, sablefish/black cod and striped bass are "Best Choices."

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