Global review of orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus), their fisheries, biology and management

Abstract

This report covers historical aspects of the regional development of orange roughy fisheries, biology, stock assessment, ecosystem interactions, and key management issues. In light of debate regarding the sustainability of orange roughy fisheries, as well as fisheries for other long-lived deepwater species, this review describes how, by making the right choices and employing the best science available, there are now some demonstrably sustainable orange roughy fisheries. However, there remain considerable challenges. These include improving understanding of deepwater benthic communities in general, their genetics and population distributions, their dispersal, and their ability to recover from fishery-related and other impacts. With regard to the direct management of the fisheries, the report emphasizes important opportunities and needs to improve ageing and acoustic biomass estimation, and to better understand the genetics and population structure of the stocks of orange roughy that are fished and managed.