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Sablefish |
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Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) are large, robust fishes with a fairly sleek profile. They are dark brown to black on their sides and top, and a pale color on their belly. Because sablefish resemble cod, they’re commonly called blackcod. The species, however, does not belong to the codfish family, but to the Anoplopomatidae family, a group of fishes confined to the North Pacific Ocean. They range from Japan north into the Bering Sea and south through Alaska and British Columbia to Mexico, with highest concentrations in Alaska. Adult sablefish grow to 100 cm or more, live primarily in water deeper than 200 m, and have been found as deep as 3000 m. Sablefish observed from a manned submersible were found on or within 1 m of the bottom. They are amongst the top predators on the continental slope, eating a wide variety of fish, cephalopods, large crustaceans, and even carrion. They are well known members of the scavengers attracted to baited cameras placed on the sea floor. They are long-lived, and individuals have been estimated to live longer than 90 years. Sablefish spawn in deep water (300-700 m) along the continental slope with exact depth and season depending upon location. In Alaska, maximum spawning occurs in March through April. Eggs and larvae collect primarily in deep water, but young-of-the-year (<8 cm) are found in near-surface waters. The smallest individuals eat zooplankton in their first weeks of life. The juveniles grow rapidly, and move to deeper water. Due to its rich oil content, sablefish is exceptionally flavorful and an excellent fish for smoking. Sablefish is the highest valued finfish per pound in Alaska commercial fisheries. The major fishery for sablefish in Alaska uses longlines, however sablefish are valuable in the trawl fishery as well. Sablefish enter the longline fishery at 4-5 years of age, perhaps slightly younger in the trawl fishery. Commercial fishing for sablefish occurs annually from March 1st to November 15th on the upper continental slope at depths averaging 250-350 fm. An individual fishing quota (IFQ) for sablefish was implemented in 1995, with over 1,000 individuals receiving quota shares. In 1996, 639 longline vessels targeting sablefish landed over 17,000 metric tons (t) in Alaska waters worth an estimated $73.1 million.
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