Sablefish (Farmed)
Sablefish (Farmed)
Anoplopoma fimbria
Quick Facts
Sablefish. Credit: Andrew Vanhooser
Sablefish. Credit: Andrew Vanhooser
About the Species
Sablefish are a deepwater species native to the Pacific Northwest. They are a tasty source of protein, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and fetch a high price in local markets. The United States currently does not produce farmed sablefish commercially. However, with the species popularity and prized taste there is a growing interest in commercial farming.
Environmental Impact
Federal and state regulations and monitoring requirements ensure that sablefish farming (as practiced in the United States) has minimal impact on the environment.
Feeds
Farmed sablefish are incredibly efficient at converting feed to edible protein. Alternative feeds have been developed to reduce reliance on fish meal and fish oil from forage fish.
Farming Methods
Sablefish are spawned and raised in land-based hatcheries until large enough for transfer to net pens.
Human Health
Sablefish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Antibiotic use is strictly limited in the United States and is prescribed only on a case-by-case basis by an on-site veterinarian.
Appearance
- Sablefish look much like cod. They are often referred to as black cod, even though they are not actually part of the cod family.
Biology
- Females can grow more than 3 feet in length.
- Females are able to reproduce at 6 ½ years old and more than 2 feet in length.
- Males are able to reproduce at age 5 and 1.9 feet in length.
- Female sablefish usually produce between 60,000 and 200,000 eggs.
- Sablefish can live to be more than 90 years old.
Fishery Management
- Permitting for sablefish aquaculture is governed by federal, state, and local governments.
- The federal agencies involved are NOAA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and the Coast Guard.
- Sablefish farms must adhere to federal regulations including those in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation & Management Act, the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Featured News
The NOAA Aquaculture Strategic Plan (2023–2028) includes goals and objectives to sustainably develop the aquaculture industry in the United States. Credit: NOAA Aquaculture Program
All organisms shed DNA into the environment. Environmental DNA (eDNA) can be used to determine the identities of the fish species that are present at or near the time of sample collection. Credit: NOAA Fisheries
Young sablefish. Credit: NOAA Fisheries.
Seafood Overview
Is Sablefish Sustainable?
U.S. farmed sablefish is a smart seafood choice because it is grown and harvested under U.S. state and federal regulations.
Availability
Year-round.
Source
Pilot project in Washington.
Taste
Sablefish have high oil content, making them exceptionally flavorful. They are often called butterfish because of their melt-in-your-mouth, oil-rich meat.
Texture
Soft, velvety texture. Their meat has large, white flakes.
Health Benefits
Very high in long-chain omega-3 fatty acids.
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1; Serving Weight: 100 g (raw); Calories: 195; Protein: 13.41 g; Total Fat: 15.3 g; Total Saturated Fatty Acids: 3.201 g; Carbohydrate: 0 g; Total Sugars: 0 g; Total Dietary Fiber: 0 g; Cholesterol: 49 mg; Selenium: 36.5 mcg; Sodium: 56 mgSeafood News
Rainbow in the dusk sky at San Diego Harbor. Credit: NOAA/Liana Heberer.
The NOAA Aquaculture Strategic Plan (2023–2028) includes goals and objectives to sustainably develop the aquaculture industry in the United States. Credit: NOAA Aquaculture Program
Raw oysters on plate. Credit: NOAA Fisheries.
Satellite image showing fine sediments and phytoplankton over the shallow nearshore waters and continental shelf of northern Gulf of Alaska, March 13, 2008. Credit: NASA Earth Observatory, NASA image by Norman Kuring, MODIS Ocean Color Team
