Sometimes known as Caribbean Red Snapper, Mexican Red Snapper, Bream.
SUMMARY. Red Snapper are found in the western Atlantic Ocean from North ...
RED SNAPPER – U.S. Lutjanus campechanus Sometimes known as Caribbean Red Snapper, Mexican Red Snapper, Bream
SUMMARY Red Snapper are found in the western Atlantic Ocean from North Carolina to northern South America, the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. Red Snapper are found around both natural and artificial structures like corals reefs and oil rigs. They grow slowly, reach sexual maturity around three years of age, and may live for over 50 years. Red Snapper are overfished throughout their range in U.S. waters, with abundance levels 5-20% of what they should be. Red Snapper are typically caught by hook-and-line gear which has minimal impact to the seafloor. However, some Red Snapper are also caught using longlines, which can accidentally catch protected animals like sea turtles and sawfish. Chef Barton Seaver suggests, “In recipes that call for Snapper, try Barramundi farmed in the U.S. It is a clean-flavored sweet flesh fish that is nearly identical to Snapper in texture. U.S. farmed Barramundi is widely available and a good price for the quality of fish that it is. It works equally as well as a whole roasted preparation as it does cooked as fillets. It's great in ceviches as well.”
Criterion
Points
Final Score
Life History
1.50
2.40 - 4.00
Abundance
0.25
1.60 - 2.39
Habitat Quality and Fishing Gear Impacts
3.50
0.00 - 1.59
Management
2.00
Bycatch
1.50
Final Score
1.75
Color
Color
LIFE HISTORY Core Points (only one selection allowed) If a value for intrinsic rate of increase („r‟) is known, assign the score below based on this value. If no r-value is available, assign the score below for the correct age at 50% maturity for females if specified, or for the correct value of growth rate ('k'). If no estimates of r, age at 50% maturity, or k are available, assign the score below based on maximum age. 1.00
Intrinsic rate of increase 10 years; OR growth rate 30 years.
2.00
Intrinsic rate of increase = 0.05-0.15; OR age at 50% maturity = 5-10 years; OR a growth rate = 0.16–0.30; OR maximum age = 11-30 years. Red Snapper reach sexual maturity between 2 to 4 years of age (Schirripa and Legault 1999; Fitzhugh et al. 2004) and can live for over 50 years (Baker and Wilson 2001; Wilson and Nieland 2001). There is some evidence that Red Snapper in the eastern Gulf of Mexico mature at a younger age and smaller size than Red Snapper in the western Gulf of Mexico (Woods 2003). Growth rates of Red Snapper in the Gulf of Mexico are moderate, with Wilson and Nieland (2001) recording k = 0.16 and 0.19 for females and males respectively, while Diaz et al. (2004) estimated a growth rate of 0.25 for both sexes combined. The fisheries management center that overseas Red Snapper used a growth rate of 0.22 for the 2005 population assessment for the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic (SEDAR 2005 and 2009). Although Red Snapper mature quickly, they have long life span and a moderate growth rate, so a score of 2 was awarded.
3.00
Intrinsic rate of increase >0.16; OR age at 50% maturity = 1-5 years; OR growth rate >0.30; OR maximum age 20 years; sequential hermaphrodites; extremely low fecundity). -0.25 Species has a small or restricted range (e.g., endemism; numerous evolutionarily significant units; restricted to one coastline; e.g., American lobster; striped bass; endemic reef fishes). Red Snapper occur in the Atlantic from North Carolina to northern South America, in the Caribbean Sea and in the Gulf of Mexico (Robins and Ray 1996; Smith 1997). Scientists assess the status of Red Snapper in the Gulf of Mexico (split into eastern and western due to genetic, recruitment and direct evidence) and South Atlantic separately (SEDAR 2005 and 2009), although currently there is no evidence that the populations are separate (Garber et al. 2004). Red Snapper are commonly found at depths of 10 to 190 m (Robins and Ray 1986). Most Red Snapper are found in tropical waters of the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean (Froese and Pauly 2010), which is a small range so points were subtracted. -0.25 Species exhibits high natural population variability driven by broad-scale environmental change (e.g. El Nino; decadal oscillations). +0.25 Species does not have special behaviors that increase ease or population consequences of capture OR has special behaviors that make it less vulnerable to fishing pressure (e.g., species is widely dispersed during spawning).
+0.25 Species has a strategy for sexual development that makes it especially resilient to fishing pressure (e.g., age at 50% maturity 100% of targeted landings), OR regularly includes a "threatened, endangered or protected species."
2.00
Bycatch in this fishery is moderate (10-99% of targeted landings) AND does not regularly include "threatened, endangered or protected species" OR level of bycatch is unknown. The 2006 biological opinion conducted by the National Marine Fisheries Service determined that the South Atlantic snapper/grouper fishery would not adversely affect marine mammals like the Northern right whale, but would adversely affect sea turtles and sawfish (NMFS 2006). Sea turtles and sawfish are considered vulnerable to both hookand-line gear and bottom longlines (NMFS 2006). It was estimated that over a three year period close to 300 sea turtles (107 fatal) and 8 smalltooth sawfish were incidentally taken by the snapper grouper/fishery, including the recreational fishery which accounts for the majority of these takes (SAFMC 2008). In the Gulf of Mexico, recent analysis from an observer program (2006-2008; primarily from bottom longline fishing for grouper) indicated the number of loggerhead sea turtles caught exceeded management levels (GMFMC 2009). This is being further reviewed and could result in a “jeopardy
opinion” for loggerhead sea turtles unless actions are taken to reduce the impact of bottom longlines (GMFMC 2009). 3.00
Bycatch in this fishery is low (
