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Seafood Watch - Seafood Guide

Ruby Snapper/Longtail Snapper

© HDAR/Les Hata
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, Ruby/Longtail (Hawaii)

The Hawaiian ruby snapper (or onaga) is caught using environmentally friendly methods to reduce habitat damage and bycatch. However, uncertainty about population size around the main Hawaiian Islands makes it a "Good Alternative."

Summary

As a group, snappers have several characteristics, including slow growth rates and small habitat ranges, that make them vulnerable to overfishing. Little is known about their distribution or behavior because they live in deep water.

In Hawaii, ruby snapper lives in deep water around rocky reefs alongside several other closely related snappers and the Hawaiian grouper. They're all fished together, year-round, using hook-and-line gear that causes little habitat damage and bycatch.

Though previously overfished, snapper and grouper populations are now carefully managed and rebuilding. However, because these species are assessed as a group instead of individually, there's uncertainty about the size of each population. As a result, ruby snapper is a "Good Alternative."

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