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Croaker, Atlantic

(U.S. Non-trawl)

Rating:
As a fast-growing fish, Atlantic croaker has the potential to be a sustainable choice. It comes down to the gear used, with net-caught croaker being a "Best Choice" and trawled croaker being a "Good Alternative."

Market Names:
Corbina, Corvina, Crocus, Grumbler, Hardhead

Consumer Notes:
Atlantic croaker has a variety of common names including corbina, corvina, croaker, crocus, grumbler, hardhead, King Billy, roncadina.

Health Alert:
Environmental Defense Fund has issued a health advisory for Atlantic croaker due to elevated levels of PCBs.

Summary:
Atlantic croaker is a relatively fast-growing species, reaching maturity and able to begin reproducing in two to three years. These traits help make croaker resilient to being overfished.

Atlantic croaker is an important commercial and recreational fish along the coast. Nearly two-thirds of the commercially available fish are caught using gillnets, haul seines and pound nets. These croaker fisheries have minimal impact on the habitat and ecosystem and are considered a "Best Choice."

Croaker is also caught by trawling. Trawling for croaker occurs primarily on the sandy seafloor and, while sandy bottoms are less damaged by the trawl gear than rocky habitats in deeper water, there are problems. Seafood Watch considers the effects of trawling on habitats and ecosystems in the croaker fishery as being of moderate conservation concern and ranked this fish as a "Good Alternative."

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