Orange roughy is an endangered deep-sea species which, under Australia’s environmental laws, can still be fished in approved fisheries. The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) manages orange roughy stock as though the fish reaches maturity and breeds at 27 to 32 years of age. “It has real implications for the ability of these fish populations to support industrial fishing,” Meder said. “There are often regional differences in life history characteristics for fish stocks, so the findings should not be considered applicable to all other orange roughy stocks,” the spokesperson said. “The life history characteristics of fish stocks are routinely reviewed and, if necessary, updated,” they said.

Source: The Guardian June 25, 2022 18:55 UTC