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Snapper, Red

(U.S. Gulf of Mexico, Wild-caught)

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

Market Names:
Mule Sow, Rat, Tai, American Red Snapper

Consumer Notes:
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.

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