At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Fish
- Population trend
- Increasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The giant sea bass is a huge reef fish of the eastern Pacific that can exceed two metres. It is assessed as Critically Endangered, with signs of recovery under protection.
It is long-lived and slow to mature.
Range & habitat
The eastern Pacific off California, USA, and Mexico.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Past severe overfishing
- Slow maturation
- Bycatch
Why it matters
A giant, long-lived reef predator hammered by historical fishing, the giant sea bass is a flagship for kelp-forest and reef recovery off California.
Sources
Sources for Giant Sea Bass
- IUCN Red List — look up Giant Sea Bass (authoritative status)
- FishBase
Frequently Asked Questions
How big does the giant sea bass get?
It is one of the largest bony fishes of its region, able to exceed two metres in length and well over a hundred kilograms, living for many decades.
Why is the giant sea bass Critically Endangered?
Published assessments cite past severe overfishing, slow maturation, and bycatch, though fishing limits have allowed some recovery. See the IUCN Red List.
Last updated: