Snapper, Deep-water
The Deep-water Red Snapper is a slow growing, deep-water bottomfish found throughout the western Pacific. It is caught along with other snappers, jacks, and groupers in the bottomfish fisheries in many Pacific island states.
The most productive fishery is the Hawaiian deep slope fishery. The bottomfish fisheries are managed by the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (WPFMC) and evaluated as a single group.
In the main Hawaiian Islands, deep bottomfish biomass declined from the 1960s to the 1980s, but has since been stable and is currently at moderate levels. Biomass of bottomfish in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands, which is now closed to all fishing, is well above target levels.
For other Pacific Island states the current status of Deep-water Red Snapper populations is unknown.
Fishery regulations include restricted fishing areas, prohibition of destructive gears, and catch limits for the Hawaiian fishery. The principal gear used in these fisheries is hook-and-line, which does not damage the seafloor and results in moderate levels of bycatch.