Seriola

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Seriola is a group of ray-finned fish known as amberjacks. There are nine living species found in coastal waters around the world. These are large, fast predators that can weigh up to about 100 kilograms and swim powerfully. They can live on the bottom, near the sea floor, or in open water, down to around 200 meters.

Most Seriola species reproduce by releasing eggs into the open ocean (external, dioecious reproduction) and they often swim in schools. Their diets include fish, squid, and other invertebrates. While most species are called amberjacks, not all are; for example, Samson fish (Seriola hippos) is sometimes not classed as an amberjack.

Seriola are important for both sport and food. In aquaculture, production exceeds 150,000 tonnes per year, mainly in Japan and Korea (especially Japanese yellowtail, Seriola quinqueradiata, and others like S. dumerili and S. lalandi), with smaller contributions from New Zealand/Australia and the Americas. Yellowtail used in sushi can be labeled as hamachi, buri, kampachi, or hiramasa.

Most farming is done in sea cages, near the coast or offshore, with a variety of feeds. This farming has environmental impacts, which the Seriola and Cobia Aquaculture Dialogue aims to reduce through standards developed with industry and other stakeholders. The final standards are supported by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council for certification of compliant farms.

Taxonomically, nine living Seriola species are recognized, though scientists sometimes disagree on exact species boundaries. The genus has a long fossil record dating back to the earliest Eocene. The name Seriola comes from Italian references to the type species, the greater amberjack.