Jacopever Scientific name Helicolenus dactylopterus Other names Jacks, rosefish (Northern hemisphere) Fishing method Offshore demersal trawl Area of capture South Africa - FAO Area 47 SASSI Colour Orange (CURRENTLY UNDER REVISION)* Summary Jacopever (Helicolenus dactylopterus) is a member of the Scorpaenidae family which also includes many venomous fish species like scorpionfish and stonefish. Jacopevers are broadly distributed throughout the Atlantic Ocean and are also found in the Mediterranean Sea. Little is known about jacopever stocks in Southern Africa as there is no directed fishery for them in South Africa and no stock assessment has been done for this species. Jacopever are a demersal (bottom-dwelling) species found offshore in rocky and soft-bottom habitats at depths of 50-550m. They are a slow-growing species with a complex reproduction cycle which makes them vulnerable to heavy fishing pressure but because there is no targeted fishery for this species, stocks are considered to be fully exploited. Jacopever are caught as bycatch in the offshore demersal hake trawl fishery which operates mainly off the waters of the Western Cape at depths of 110m and deeper. The offshore demersal trawl fishery operates using trawl nets which are dragged behind the boat along the ocean floor at depths from 110 - 800 m. Jacopever caught in the inshore trawl fishery are considered to be less sustainable than those caught in the offshore trawl fishery (see jacopever assessment for inshore demersal trawl). The fishery primarily targets deepwater hake (Merluccius paradoxus) on soft, sandy bottoms as well as commercially valuable bycatch species such as kingklip (Genypterus capensis) and monkfish (Lophius vomerinus). Although trawling is a highly unselective fishing method, offshore fishing grounds are not generally very biodiverse (i.e they are only inhabited by a few species) and the discard rate for this fishery is estimated to be 10% of the total catch. However, this fishing method is likely to have significant impacts on bottom habitats and there are concerns around the number of seabird mortalities caused during trawling (estimated at 8000 per year). The hake component of the offshore demersal trawl fishery has been certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) since 2004 and the current management system for this fishery employs a number of ecosystem-based management measures which address issues such as bycatch, closed areas and benthic habitat impacts. *Please note, this species is currently under revision in terms of its WWF-SASSI sustainability rating, and more recent information incorporated into the assessment may affect its colour categorisation. For more information, email us at [email protected]. What can YOU do? Rather choose a green-listed alternative such as gurnard or kob farmed in land-based farms. These alternatives have similar firm, white, flaky flesh as jacopever caught by offshore trawl. Or if you dont want to cut offshore trawl caught jacopever out of your diet completely, eat it on a special occasion rather than every time you eat out.
Posted on: Sun, 10 Aug 2014 20:12:41 +0000
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