ALFONSINOS OR GOLDEN EYE PERCH

BIOLOGY Alfonsinos are deep-water species belonging to a family of fish known as Berycidae or sawbellies. There are 2 species of alfonsinos - Beryx decadactylus (Red bream or alfonsino) and Beryx splendens (Golden eye perch), both are commercially fished. Alfonsinos are a deep-bodied red fish found worldwide in temperate and tropical latitudes, except the northeast Pacific and Mediterranean Sea. They generally live near the sea bottom at depths of 200-400 m but may be found as deep as 1300 m. The greatest resources appear to be around New Zealand, off Portugal and northwest Africa, and in northern Japan. The species have a tendency to aggregate on seamounts, potentially enabling large numbers to be caught. Maximum length of B. decadactylus is 100 cm and B. splendens is 70 cm. B. splendens matures when 5 to 8 years old and lives for at least 23 years. Both species grow slowly and have a low resilience to exploitation. ADVICE Because of its aggregating behaviour this deep-water species is susceptible to exploitation. Insufficient information is available to suggest that current levels of exploitation are sustainable, as fishing in international waters is generally unregulated. Avoid eating.