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Yellowtail

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Seafood Watch - Seafood Guide

Yellowtail

© Monterey Bay Aquarium
SEAFOODRATINGMARKET NAMESWHERE CAUGHTHOW CAUGHT
California Yellowtail 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. Amberjack, Hiramasa, Yellowtail Jack U.S. Wild-caught
Yellowtail Avoid: Avoid these products for now. These fish come from sources that are overfished or fished or farmed in ways that harm the environment. Yellowtail Kingfish, Goldstriped Amberjack, Hiramasa, Hamachi Australia Farmed
Yellowtail Avoid: Avoid these products for now. These fish come from sources that are overfished or fished or farmed in ways that harm the environment. Yellowtail, Japanese Amberjack, Buri, Hamachi Japan Farmed


Yellowtail, Farmed

Due to a high reliance on wild-caught fish for feed and serious concerns regarding parasite transfer to wild stocks, imported farmed yellowtail is ranked as "Avoid."

Consumer Note

Yellowtail is most commonly known as hamachi when prepared for sushi. There are many fish named "yellowtail" around the world and numerous market names. Be sure to ask where your yellowtail comes from.

Summary

Four species of yellowtail are farmed around the world. All are farmed in open net pens, which can impact the surrounding environment.

Most farmed yellowtail originates in Japan. These farms use large quantities of feed that's made from wild-caught fish and also gather the young fish for the farm from the wild. There are also serious concerns regarding disease and water pollution. As a result, we recommend consumers "Avoid" yellowtail farmed in Japan.

Yellowtail farmed in Australia also has a high reliance on wild-caught fish for feed and there are serious concerns regarding parasites. Farmed yellowtail from Australia is also ranked as "Avoid."

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