wreckfish

Polyprion americanus, commonly known as wreckfish in English and wreckfish in French, is a large demersal teleost that inhabits deep continental slopes and oceanic islands. This species is likely endangered, but information remains incomplete at the IUCN level to formalize this status.

Populations seem to be impacted at all stages of life by overfishing. Strict protection measures have been put in place in the United States and New Zealand, but it remains widely threatened over much of its range.

In American populations, fish over 100 cm in total length are predominantly females, which may indicate a difference in growth and longevity between the sexes.

The wreckfish is widely distributed but discontinuously, with presence in temperate waters of the North and South Atlantic, the Mediterranean, and the Indian and Pacific Oceans. However, populations have experienced significant declines due to intensive fishing. In Brazil, commercial fishing began in 1973, reaching alarming levels with a 90% decrease in CPUE between 1989 and 1998. In Bermuda, catches dropped by 96% in just four years after longline introduction. The Azores and Madeira also showed significant declines in landings.

Conservation measures have been implemented in several regions, including moratoriums and fishing restrictions. In the United States, commercial fishing began in 1987 but was quickly regulated due to sustainability concerns. Despite these efforts, stocks remain fragile, and fishery management remains a challenge due to the slow reproduction and growth of the species.