Moonfish: Quick Facts
Scientific name: Lampris guttatus
Other names: opah, spotted moonfish, nandai, akamanbo (Japan).
Ranking: E (Red - Worst Choice)
Best Fish Guide: Moonfish
Ranking: E (Red - Avoid)
Alternative choice: Abacore or Skipjack tuna
Description: Moonfish are a bycatch in tuna longline fisheries on the west coast of both main islands.
Ecological concerns: the uncertainty of some basic biological information, uncertainty about the state of the stocks, basic biology, the bycatch of sharks, seabirds and fur seals, and the lack of a stock assessment, or a management plan. There are also ecological concerns given removal of this large predator species from the food web.
Economic value: Moonfish has low commercial value and catch is exported to Australia, Europe and the US. The export value of all tuna and swordfish species combined was $40.1 million in 2008.
ASSESSMENT OUTPUT
Biology and risk of overfishing (score B)
Status and sustainability of fish catches (score D)
Impact of fishing method and protected, threatened and endangered species captures (score D and E)
Management and management unit (score E and E)
For a full ecological assessment click here
