Ray's Bream: Quick Facts
Scientific name: Brama brama
Other names: Atlantic pomfret, pomfret (Namibia/South Africa), Brachsenmakrele (Germany), Pesce castagna (Italy).
Ranking: E (Red - Avoid)
Best Fish Guide: Ray's Bream
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Ranking D (Amber - Concerns)
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Alternative choice: Albacore or Skipjack tuna
Description: Ray’s Bream is a highly migratory species (HMS found worldwide in temperate, tropical and subtropical seas. The management responsibility for this species, as with other Western Pacific HMS, lies with an international body – the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries commission (WCPFC). However, the Ministry of Fisheries is responsible for upholding WCPFC rules in New Zealand waters, with catch limits set under the quota management system. They are targeted and caught as a bycatch in the northern bigeye and southern bluefin tuna longline fisheries.
Ecological concerns: Uncertainty about state of stocks and catch limits. There is also concern about the bycatch of sharks, seabirds, fur seals and sea turtles. Another key concern is the ecological impacts of removing this middle tier predator species from oceanic food webs.
Economic value: The export value of all tuna and swordfish species combined was $40.1 million in 2008.
ASSESSMENT OUTPUT
Biology and risk of overfishing (score D)
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 D)
For a full ecological assessment, click here
