Roughy, Orange

Orange roughy may contain levels of mercury contamination that pose a health risk for adults and children.

Orange roughy are caught in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans with fisheries off the coast of New Zealand, Australia, Namibia, the Northeast Atlantic, and Chile. This fish is particularly vulnerable to overfishing due to its long lifespan and slow maturation.Orange roughy do not reach reproductive maturity until 20 to 40 years of age, and may live for over 100 years. Bottom trawling methods are generally used to catch this deep-sea fish. This fishing method is performed with nets that drag along the seafloor, and can damage habitat and remove or cover animals and plant life. This method of fishing can accidentally catch many types of unwanted marine wildlife that are discarded, often dead or dying, after they are brought to the surface.

Orange Roughy is one of Food & Water Watch’s Dirty Dozen.

Recommended alternatives to orange roughy:
• Snapper, Yellowtail
• Mahi-mahi, U.S. pole- or troll- caught
• Haddock, U.S. hook-and-line caught
• Halibut, Pacific
• Tilapia, U.S. farmed
• Catfish, U.S. farmed

Understanding the Smart Seafood Guide

Read Understanding the 2012 Smart Seafood Guide online or download the PDF.

The Smart Seafood Guide Glossary

Download the entire 2012 Smart Seafood Glossary (includes all fish citations) or get the wallet-sized seafood guide.

Fish Lingo

Get definitions of commonly used terms in our guide. Download the PDF.

Methodology

Mercury and PCB contaminant information for the Smart Seafood Guide is drawn from Environmental Defense Fund’s Health Alert List. Environmental Defense calculates health advisories based on government databases and scientific studies. Read more.

* Disclaimer

These recommendations are intended as a general reference. They are not intended to provide specific medical advice, supplant any government warnings or otherwise prevent exposure to any health hazards associated with seafood. People should always follow proper acquisition, handling and cooking procedures of any seafood they prepare or consume. The devastating April 2011 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is likely to impact availability of some seafood items on this card. For more information, see the latest government updates at http://bit.ly/gulfseafood and http://bit.ly/gulfNOAA

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Roughy, Orange

Understanding the Smart Seafood Guide

The Smart Seafood Guide Glossary

Fish Lingo

Methodology

* Disclaimer

About

Our Issues

Our Mission