Deepwater redfish

Deepwater redfish on a stamp of Postverk Føroya (Faroe Islands), 2006.

The Deepwater redfish (Sebastes mentella) may reach a size of 55-70 cm, but is usually less than 45 cm. It lives in comparatively high concentrations in the North Atlantic, for example in the Irminger Sea where considerable numbers are fished. It occupies depths between 300 and 1000 metres and is often pelagic, i.e. far off the bottom. The deep-sea redfish feeds on a variety of food organisms, for example small fishes. In contrast to most fishes that spawn unfertilised eggs, the deepwater redfish has internal fertilisation and spawns free-living larvae.

S. mentella is very similar in appearance to the Acadian redfish (Sebastes fasciatus).

Sustainable consumption

In 2010, Greenpeace International has added the deepwater redfish to its seafood rainbow list. "The Greenpeace International seafood red list is a list of fish that are commonly sold in your house around the world, and which have a very high risk of being sourced from unsustainable fisheries."^[1]

References

1. ^ Greenpeace International Seafood Red list

• Postverk Føroya (Public Domain)