Seafood Watch - Seafood Guide

Silk Snapper

© Diane Rome Peebles
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, Silk

Information about silk snapper populations is limited. However, there are concerns about overfishing and bycatch in portions of this widespread fishery. For this reason, silk snapper is considered a "Good Alternative."

Summary

Silk snapper is a fast-growing species that begins to reproduce at a young age, traits that help it resist fishing pressure. It's wide ranging, found from North Carolina to Brazil, as well as the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. Silk snapper is mostly caught incidentally and in small numbers by fishermen targeting other snappers.

Little is known about silk snapper, making assessment difficult. However it's clear that Caribbean populations are being depleted due to overfishing and there are serious bycatch concerns - including sea turtles and depleted fish species - in the U.S. South Atlantic fishery.

Silk snapper is mostly caught with bottom longlines, pots/traps and by hook-and-line - gears that generally don't cause as much damage to seafloor habitats.

For these reasons, silk snapper is considered a "Good Alternative."


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How fish are caught or farmed makes a difference. Fishing boat