Yellowtail amberjack

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Yellowtail amberjack
Yellowtail amberjack.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Carangiformes
Family: Carangidae
Genus: Seriola
Species:
S. lalandi
Binomial name
Seriola lalandi
Synonyms [2]

The yellowtail amberjack, yellowtail kingfish, hiramasa or great amberjack (Seriola lalandi) is a large fish found in the Southern Ocean. Although previously thought to be found in all oceans and seas, recent genetic analysis restricts S. lalandi proper to the Southern Hemisphere waters. [3] However, they are found in Northern Hemisphere waters during certain times of the year. The fish was given its name by Monsieur de Lalande, a naturalist who first informed zoologist Achille Valenciennes of the existence of this species. His reason for the use of the word Seriola (feminine diminutive form of seria, a large earthenware pot) to name the fish is uncertain, but the second word lalandi was derived from his surname. [4] These fish are now being farmed offshore in Maine.

Contents

Taxonomy

The yellowtail amberjack was formally described in 1833 by French zoologist Achille Valenciennes from type specimens sent to him [5] by naturalist and explorer Pierre Antoine Delalande, who is honoured in its specific name. [6] Fishbase includes populations of similar fish in the Northern Hemisphere within this species, [2] but other authorities regard S. aureovittata from the North Pacific Ocean around Japan and S. dorsalis of the northeastern Pacific as separate species. [7]

Distribution and habitat

Yellowtail amberjack, painting by Kawahara Keiga (Chuan Yuan Qing He ), 1823-1829 Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.ART.196 - Seriola aureovittata Temminck and Schlegel - Kawahara Keiga - 1823 - 1829 - Siebold Collection - pencil drawing - water colour.jpeg
Yellowtail amberjack, painting by Kawahara Keiga (川原慶賀), 1823-1829
Yellowtail amberjack (hiramasa) being sold at a market in Shimane Prefecture, Japan Yellowtail amberjack for sale in Shimane Mar 12 2020 .jpeg
Yellowtail amberjack (hiramasa) being sold at a market in Shimane Prefecture, Japan

The yellowtail amberjack occurs in tropical and temperate waters of the Southern Hemisphere and the northern Pacific. In Australia, it is recorded from North Reef, Queensland, (23° 11′ S) to Trigg Island, Western Australia, (31° 52′ S), and as far south as Tasmania. [8]

The yellowtail amberjack (or yellowtail kingfish as it is known in Australia) is a highly mobile pelagic species, and tends to either form single-species schools, or combine with southern bluefin tuna ( Thunnus maccoyii ) and silver trevally ( Pseudocaranx dentex ). They prefer water temperatures of 17‒24 °C. [9]

In general, they inhabit rocky reefs and adjacent sandy areas in coastal waters and occasionally enter estuaries. They are found from shallow water down to depths around 50 m, although have been caught from over 300 m.

Young fish up to 7 kg are known to form shoals of several hundred fish. They are generally found close to the coast, while larger fish are more common around deep reefs and offshore islands. Juvenile yellowtail amberjack are rarely seen, as they are often found far from land associated with floating debris or weed which provide camouflage. Juveniles are yellow with black bands. This colouration fades as the fish ages, and by about 30 cm in length, the fish has assumed its adult colouration.

Biology

Very little is known of the yellowtail amberjack's biology, including its habitat preferences throughout juvenile life stages, migration patterns, and wild reproductive behaviour. Adults live around rocky reefs, rocky outcrops, and drop-offs in coastal waters, and around pinnacles and offshore islands. [10] Maximum length is often reported to reach up to 180 cm. Large kingfish caught near Port Augusta in South Australia have been recorded at weights of between 40 and 50 kilograms. Recreational fishers have reported that kingfish catches near Port Augusta were more reliable when the Playford Power Stations were discharging hot water into the upper Spencer Gulf. The power stations have been decommissioned, but kingfish still migrate to upper Spencer Gulf as the southern gulf water cools. [11]

Sydney Harbour

Before the introduction of kingfish traps (for commercial fishing) in the 1970s, huge numbers of yellowtail amberjack were in Sydney Harbour. These traps were so effective that some studies suggested the traps may have wiped out as much as 60% of the larger amberjack population. [12] In the mid-1990s under heavy pressure from recreational anglers, Bob Martin, the minister for fisheries, prohibited the use of these traps in Sydney Harbour.

Behaviour

Yellowtail amberjacks are known for their curiosity around human vessels. The fish often accompany stingrays in harbours and estuaries, making use of the stingrays ability to sense fish through electroreception. [13]

Diet

Being a pelagic fish, yellowtail amberjack are highly active predators, usually in schools or in pairs. Their main diet consists of baitfish including yellowtail mackerel, squid, prawns, garfish, and kahawai. [14] Yellowtail amberjacks are one of the major predator species in New Zealand waters, and have been recorded eating seabirds. [13]

In a human context

Yellowtail amberjack sashimi Sashimi-dish Yellow tail amberijack01.jpg
Yellowtail amberjack sashimi

In New Zealand, yellowtail amberjacks are a traditional food of Māori, who call the fish haku. The fish was often caught using hooks that incorporated iridescent pāua shell, or by capturing schools of fish in large nets. The fish is traditionally associated with qualities of warriors and leaders, and some iwi associate the fish with the end of life. Early European settlers to New Zealand disliked the fish (known as kingfish), believing the taste to be flavourless and coarse, however this perception changed over time and it has since become one of the most popular sporting species of fish. [13]

Uses and aquaculture

S. lalandi has been established as a suitable candidate for marine aquaculture. In contrast to the culture of the Japanese amberjack (S. quinqueradiata), which has long been cultured extensively in Japan, juveniles of S. lalandi are not easily available from the wild, and juveniles are produced in hatcheries from captive-breeding stock. In 2010, the Stehr Group in South Australia was the largest producer of cultured S. lalandi in the world. Trials elsewhere in Australia have been undertaken and in some cases abandoned after stock losses. [15] [16] Water quality concerns were raised following farmed kingfish mortalities in upper Spencer Gulf, South Australia, in 2011. [17] In the late 2010s, yellowtail kingfish farms were established near Geraldton and the Abrolhos Islands in Western Australia by Indian Ocean Fresh Australia and Huon Aquaculture, respectively. [18]

Some attempts have been made to culture the species in New Zealand, both in sea cages and a large land-based system at Parengarenga Harbour (northern New Zealand). Chile is currently testing sea-cage and land-based farming methods. In Germany, S. lalandi is being cultivated in the first land-based seafish-culture. [19] A Dutch company, The Kingfish Company, is planning to open a land-based aquaculture operation in Maine, U.S.A., in 2022. Most cultured S. lalandi is sold to the Japanese restaurant market for consumption as sashimi. Amberjack can be eaten in a variety of ways, including grilling and drying.

Related Research Articles

Kingfish may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amberjack</span> Genus of fishes

Amberjacks are Atlantic and Pacific fish in the genus Seriola of the family Carangidae. They are widely consumed across the world in various cultures, most notably for Pacific amberjacks in Japanese cuisine; they are most often found in the warmer parts of the oceans. There are many variations of amberjack, including greater amberjack (Atlantic), lesser amberjack (Atlantic), Almaco jack (Pacific), yellowtail (Pacific), and the banded rudderfish (Atlantic). Though most of the Seriola species are considered "amberjacks", the species Seriola hippos is not.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cobia</span> Species of fish

The cobia is a species of carangiform marine fish, the only extant representative of the genus Rachycentron and the family Rachycentridae. Its other common names include black kingfish, black salmon, ling, lemonfish, crabeater, prodigal son, codfish, and black bonito.

A yellowtail may be any of several different species of fish. Most commonly the yellowtail amberjack Seriola lalandi is meant. In the context of sushi, yellowtail usually refers to the Japanese amberjack, Seriola quinqueradiata. Other species called simply "yellowtail" include:

<i>Arripis</i> Genus of fishes

Arripis is a genus of marine fishes from Australia and New Zealand, known as Australian salmon, kahawai and Australian herring. They are the only members of the family Arripidae. Despite the common name, Australian salmon are not related to the salmon family Salmonidae of the Northern Hemisphere, just as Australian herring are not related to herring of the Northern Hemisphere, but belong to the order Perciformes of perch-like fishes. Australian salmon were named so by early European settlers after their superficial resemblance to the salmoniform fishes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Japanese amberjack</span> Species of fish

The Japanese amberjack or yellowtail, Seriola quinqueradiata, is a species of jack fish in the family Carangidae, native to the northwest Pacific Ocean. It is known as shiyu (鰤魚) in China, bang'eo (방어) in Korea, and buri or hamachi in Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rainbow runner</span> Species of fish

The rainbow runner, also known as the rainbow yellowtail, Spanish jack and Hawaiian salmon, is a common species of pelagic marine fish of the jack family, Carangidae. The species is widespread throughout the tropical and subtropical waters of the world, inhabiting both coastal and offshore areas. The species is the only member of the genus Elagatis, which was created 15 years after its initial description, and is closely related to the amberjacks. The rainbow runner is easily distinguished by its body shape, and the brilliant colouration which gives the fish its name. It is a fast-swimming predator, taking small fish, cephalopods, and a wide variety of planktonic crustaceans. The species reaches sexual maturity around 60 cm (24 in), and spawning takes place at different times, with some populations spawning year round, while others only spawn at certain times of the year. The species is a well known game fish, taken by a variety of fishing methods, and is a well-regarded table fish. Large numbers of the species are taken as bycatch in tuna- and shark-fishing operations and marketed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greater amberjack</span> Species of fish

The greater amberjack, also known as the allied kingfish, great amberfish, greater yellowtail, jenny lind, Sea donkey, purplish amberjack, reef donkey, rock salmon, sailors choice, yellowtail, and yellow trevally, is a species of predatory ray-finned fish in the family Carangidae, the jacks and pompanos. It is found in temperate, subtropical, and tropical seas around the world. It is a popular quarry species for recreational fisheries and is important in commercial fisheries. It is the largest species in the family Carangidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Longfin yellowtail</span> Species of fish

The longfin yellowtail, also known as the almaco or silvercoat jack, deep-water, falcate, European or highfin amberjack, rock salmon, longfin or yellow kingfish, is a game fish of the family Carangidae; they are in the same family as yellowtail and amberjack. They are carnivorous and feed, both day and night, on other, smaller fish, such as baitfish, small squid, octopus, crab and shrimp. The flesh is thick and dense, like tuna, and easily may be passed off for white albacore if prepared as sushi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aquaculture in New Zealand</span>

Aquaculture started to take off in New Zealand in the 1980s. It is dominated by mussels, oysters and salmon. In 2007, aquaculture generated about NZ$360 million in sales on an area of 7,700 hectares. $240 million was earned in exports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aquaculture in Australia</span>

Aquaculture in Australia is the country's fastest-growing primary industry, accounting for 34% of the total gross value of production of seafood. 10 species of fish are farmed in Australia, and production is dominated by southern bluefin tuna, Atlantic salmon and barramundi. Mud crabs have also been cultivated in Australia for many years, sometimes leading to over-exploitation. Traditionally, this aquaculture was limited to pearls, but since the early 1970s, there has been significant research and commercial development of other forms of aquaculture, including finfish, crustaceans, and molluscs.

<i>Seriola</i> Genus of fishes

Seriola is a genus of ray-finned fish, with many species commonly known as amberjacks. Nine extant species are currently recognized, although these were formerly split into many more. Also, several species are currently placed in several other genera of the Carangidae that were originally described under Seriola. They are a large, carnivorous finfish popularly known for the firm texture and rich flavour of their flesh, which make them an ideal fish for aquaculture. Because specimens caught can weigh up to 100 kg (220 lb), and are powerful swimmers and hunters, they are also highly prized by sport fisherman.

<i>Trachurus lathami</i> Species of fish

Trachurus lathami is a species of fish in the family Carangidae and the genus Trachurus, the jack mackerels. Common names include rough scad and horse mackerel in English, as well as chinchard frappeur (French), chicharro garretón (Spanish), jurel, and carapau, garaçuma, surel, and xixarro. It is native to parts of the western Atlantic Ocean, including seas off the eastern coasts of North and South America and the Gulf of Mexico.

<i>Seriola dorsalis</i> Species of fish

Seriola dorsalis, the California yellowtail is a species of ray-finned fish of the family Carangidae. This species is also known by several alternate names, such as amberjack, forktail, mossback, white salmon and yellowtail tunis or tuna or by its Spanish name jurel. Although previously thought to belong to S. lalandi, recent genetic analysis distinguished California yellowtail as a distinct species from the yellowtail amberjack.

Clean Seas Seafood Ltd is an Australian seafood production company specialising in the sea-cage aquaculture of Yellowtail kingfish. It was established by The Stehr Group in 2000, and became the first Australian company fish farming in South Australia to be listed on the ASX in 2005. The company was established by "tuna baron" Hagen Stehr, whose son Marcus remains one of the company's directors. Clean Seas has shore and sea-based fish farming facilities at Arno Bay, aquaculture leases in Fitzgerald Bay and near Port Lincoln and a processing facility at Royal Park in Adelaide. Its tuna interests were originally held by the private company Australian Tuna Fisheries Pty Ltd. Clean Seas' ambition to control and commercialise the lifecycle of the Southern bluefin tuna has not been realised.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lesser amberjack</span> Species of fish

The lesser amberjack, also known as the false amberjack or little amberjack, is a species of ray-finned fish from the family Carangidae, the jacks and pompanos.

Fitzgerald Bay is a large bay located between Point Lowly and Backy Point in South Australia's upper Spencer Gulf. The bay's shoreline consists mostly of pebble beaches and sparse grey mangroves. In the 2000s the bay was used for the farming of yellowtail kingfish until their closure circa 2011 in response to high levels of fish mortality. Understanding of the environmental impacts of yellowtail kingfish farming is limited. As of 2021, fish farming has not returned to Fitzgerald Bay, but aquaculture zones remain in place, and Clean Seas is authorised to restock fish farms there. There are approximately forty shacks and coastal homes sparsely distributed along the fringe of Fitzgerald Bay whose interests are represented by the Cultana Jenkins Shackowners' Association.

Fish farming inWestern Australia is an experimental part of the state's seafood sector. Prominent operators and lessees include Indian Ocean Fresh Australia and Huon Aquaculture, and the primary commercial species are yellowtail kingfish in the Mid West aquaculture zone and barramundi in the Kimberley aquaculture zone. Pink snapper is another species considered as a sea cage fish farming prospect. The Mid West aquaculture zone lies between Geraldton and the Abrolhos Islands, and the Kimberly aquaculture zone is in Cone Bay north of Derby. The sector is represented by Erica Starling as spokesperson for the Marine Fishfarmers Association.

Fish farming is a major economic contributor to South Australia's seafood sector. The most valuable species is the Southern bluefin tuna, which is caught in the wild then transferred into sea cages in southern Spencer Gulf where they are fed locally caught sardines. The second most valuable species is the Yellowtail kingfish, which is farmed near Port Lincoln and Arno Bay. A tourist venture called Oceanic Victor located in Encounter Bay allows paying customers the opportunity to swim in a sea cage with the Southern bluefin tuna and handfeed the fish. Prominent companies in the fish farming sector in South Australia include Clean Seas and Tony's Tuna International.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Piopiotahi (Milford Sound) Marine Reserve</span>

Piopiotahi Marine Reserve is a marine reserve covering an area of 690 hectares in the Milford Sound / Piopiotahi, in Fiordland on New Zealand's South Island. It was established in 1993 and is administered by the Department of Conservation.

References

  1. ↑ Smith-Vaniz, W.F.; Williams, I. (2015). "Seriola lalandi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2015: e.T195097A43155921. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T195097A43155921.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Seriola lalandi" in FishBase. August 2019 version.
  3. ↑ Martinez-Takeshita, N., D. M. Purcell, C. L. Chabot, M. T. Craig, C. N. Paterson, J. R. Hyde, & L. G. Allen. 2015. A tale of three tails: cryptic speciation in a globally distributed marine fish of the genus Seriola. Copeia, 103(2): 357-368.
  4. ↑ Australian Museum (9 March 2020). "Yellowtail Kingfish, Seriola lalandi Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1833". The Australian Museum. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  5. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Seriola lalandi". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  6. ↑ Christopher Scharpf; Kenneth J. Lazara (10 August 2019). "Order CARANGIFORMES (Jacks)". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  7. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). Seriola "Species in the genus 'Seriola'". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  8. ↑ Australian Museum (9 March 2020). "Yellowtail Kingfish, Seriola lalandi Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1833". The Australian Museum. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  9. ↑ Roelofs, Anthony; Lewis, Paul; Rogers, Paul; Georgeson, Lee; Tracey, Sean; Victorian Fisheries, Authority. "Yellowtail Kingfish 2020". Fisheries Research and Development Corporation. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  10. ↑ Dianne J Bray, 2011, Yellowtail Kingfish, Seriola lalandi, in Fishes of Australia, accessed 26 Aug 2014, http://www.fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1662 Archived 18 December 2019 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ↑ Pittaway, Daniel (2017). "Port Augusta winter warriors". FishingSA. 53: 62–66.
  12. ↑ "How to catch Sydney harbour kingfish". Fishabout Fishing Charters Sydney Harbour With Craig McGill. 13 December 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  13. 1 2 3 Vennell, Robert (5 October 2022). Secrets of the Sea: The Story of New Zealand's Native Sea Creatures. HarperCollins Publishers Ltd. pp. 176–181. ISBN   978-1-77554-179-0. Wikidata   Q114871191.
  14. ↑ "How to catch kingfish". The fishing website. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  15. ↑ Page, Donna (5 February 2019). "Controversial Port Stephens kingfish farm scrapped". Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  16. ↑ "Yellowtail kingfish farmed at Geraldton die". www.abc.net.au. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  17. ↑ "Concerns about kingfish deaths in upper spencer gulf". www.abc.net.au. 23 September 2011. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  18. ↑ "Jobs to be created after aquaculture zone approved". www.abc.net.au. 3 August 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  19. ↑ "FRESH Kingfisch Filet, ca. 750-770g - KÜCHENFERTIG - FRESHMERCATO.COM". Archived from the original on 13 January 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2020.

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