Biology:Deepwater redfish

Short description: Species of fish

Deepwater redfish
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Scorpaeniformes
Family:	Scorpaenidae
Genus:	Sebastes
Species:	S. mentella
Binomial name
Sebastes mentella Travin, 1951

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

The deepwater redfish (Sebastes mentella), also known as the beaked redfish, ocean perch, Atlantic redfish, Norway haddock, red perch, golden redfish, or hemdurgan, may reach a size of 55–70 centimetres (22–28 in), but is usually less than 45 centimetres (18 in). 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 1,000 metres (980 and 3,280 ft) 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.

Sebastes 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 red list. "The Greenpeace International seafood red list is a list of fish that are commonly sold around the world, and which have a very high risk of being sourced from unsustainable fisheries."

References

• Postverk Føroya (Public Domain)

Wikidata ☰ Q1700062 entry