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Snapper, Silk
(Wild-caught from U.S. Caribbean, U.S. Gulf of Mexico and U.S. South Atlantic)
Rating:
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."
Market Names:
Silky Snapper, Yellow-eyed Snapper
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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