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Almaco Jack
Almaco Jack Species Profile Overview
Almaco jack, also known as kanpachi, is a deepwater fish primarily targeted in commercial and recreational fisheries in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Farming of this species in Hawaii in open-ocean net pens is a growing industry that holds potential for more widespread implementation.
New England/Mid-Atlantic,
Pacific Islands,
Southeast,
West Coast
Almaco jack (also known as kanpachi). Credit: Blue Ocean Mariculture
Almaco jack (also known as kanpachi). Credit: Blue Ocean Mariculture
About the Species
Almaco jack (also known as kanpachi). Credit: Blue Ocean Mariculture
Almaco jack (also known as kanpachi). Credit: Blue Ocean Mariculture
Almaco jack are a pelagic, often deepwater species found in tropical and temperate waters around the world. In the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, they are targeted by both the recreational and commercial fishing sectors due to their size and food quality.
In the Pacific Islands where there is a sizable market, almaco jack is farmed in deep water near the Island of Hawaiʻi. The fish are spawned and raised in on-land hatcheries until they are large enough for transfer to submersible marine net pens. Almaco jack also is a candidate for commercial aquaculture in the Gulf of Mexico and U.S. Caribbean.
Appearance
Almaco jack have an elongated, slightly high-backed and laterally compressed body.
Almaco jack are a dusky color with light amber/olive stripes down their sides. Their upper bodies and lower fins tend to be a dark blue-green to brown, with a much lighter underbelly that can appear almost lavender. They have a dark stripe that runs from the mouth through the eye, towards the dorsal fin.
Almaco jack are part of the same family as amberjacks and other greater jack fish. Several of these species can look very similar to one another—including almaco jack, greater amberjack, lesser amberjack, and banded rudderfish—which can make it difficult to identify them especially when they are juveniles/small.
Biology
Almaco jack can grow up to a little over 5 feet long and up to 136 pounds. On average, adults reach a length of 3 feet and weigh between 15 and 31 pounds. Almaco jack are known to form spawning groups.
Where They Live
Range
Image
John Galbraith holds an almaco jack on the deck of NOAA Ship Albatross IV during one of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s bottom trawl surveys. Credit: Northeast Fisheries Science Center Historical Photographs
Almaco jack are a pelagic species of fish found in the tropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Pacific Islands, and occasionally Southern California. Almaco jack have a latitude range of 27.2 to 35 degrees North. On the East Coast they are seldom found north of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. On rare occasions during the summer, they may be caught as far north as Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Almaco jack are often considered a deepwater species with a depth range of 15 to 110 meters.
In the U.S., almaco jack is currently farmed in Hawaiʻi and Florida.
Habitat
In the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, almaco jack are associated with rocky outcrops, reef structures, and the water column above reefs. Artificial reefs can provide important habitat to transient predators such as almaco jack. In the South Atlantic, transient predators are five times as dense on artificial than natural reefs during the summer and fall seasons.
Dr. Matthew Girard examines an almaco jack on the deck of NOAA ship Henry B. Bigelow during the fall 2022 Northeast Fisheries Science Center bottom trawl survey. Credit: Dr. Katherine Bemis
Barotrauma expands gasses in a fish causing the air bladder and other organs to expand as well, making it difficult for fish to swim after release. Credit: NOAA Fisheries, Florida SeaGrant
Alamco jack is known for its sweet, slightly nutty and buttery flavor, as well as its firm, flaky texture. High in omega-3 fatty acids, it is available year-round and sourced from wild-caught fisheries and aquaculture.
Seafood Facts
Is Almaco Jack Sustainable?
U.S. farmed and wild-caught almaco jack is a smart seafood choice because it is grown and harvested under U.S. state and federal regulations.
Availability
Year-round.
Source
Wild-caught in the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and California. In the U.S., almaco jack is currently farmed in Hawaiʻi and Florida.
Taste
Almaco jack has a clean, sweet, rich, slightly nutty, buttery flavor.
Texture
Fatty yet firm, and very flaky and tender.
Color
Pale pink to white.
Health Benefits
High in long-chain omega-3 fatty acids.
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1;
Serving Weight: 100 g (raw);
Calories: 141;
Protein: 22.2 g;
Total Fat: 5.9 g;
Total Saturated Fatty Acids: 1.6 g;
Carbohydrate: 0 g;
Total Sugars: 0 g;
Total Dietary Fiber: 0 g;
Cholesterol: 40 mg;
Sodium: 41mg
NOAA Fisheries, in collaboration with Blue Ocean Mariculture, is conducting a multi-year pilot study to evaluate observational methods and tools for studying Hawaiian monk seal behavior. Courtesy of Blue Ocean Mariculture
U.S. wild-caught almaco jack are sustainably managed to prevent overfishing and protect ecosystem health. Learn about regulations, population status, landings, and fishing gear.
Wild-Caught Fishery
In the United States, almaco jack are primarily targeted in commercial and recreational fisheries in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Known for their strength and stamina, they are often a prized catch of recreational fishermen.
Population
The stock has never been assessed. The population level is unknown, but presumed stable.
Fishing Rate
At recommended level.
Habitat Impacts
Fishing gear used to catch almaco jack has minimal impacts on habitat.
Bycatch
Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch.
Population Status
There are two stocks of almaco jack identified in the Southeastern United States—one stock contained in the Gulf of Mexico Jacks Complex and one contained in the South Atlantic Jacks Complex.
In the Gulf of Mexico, almaco jack is part of the Gulf of Mexico Jacks Complex and is not assessed, so the overfished status is unknown. This complex is not subject to overfishing based on 2023 catch data.
In the South Atlantic, almaco jack is part of the South Atlantic Jacks Complex and is not assessed so the overfished and overfishing status is unknown.
In the South Atlantic, almaco jack is managed under the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region. Commercial fishermen must have a federal limited access snapper-grouper permit to commercially harvest almaco jack. Anyone entering the commercial snapper-grouper fishery must buy two snapper-grouper vessel permits to qualify for a newly issued permit, thus eliminating one permit each time a new person enters the commercial snapper-grouper fishery.
Commercial size limits help to ensure that fish grow large enough to reproduce, and commercial trip and recreational bag limits control harvest. Annual catch limits and accountability measures ensure overfishing does not occur. There are also eight deepwater marine protected areas intended to protect habitat and the fish that live in those areas. To help protect deepwater habitat, there are restrictions on the use of bottom longline, traps, and trawl fishing gear.
A descending device is required on board all vessels fishing for or possessing snapper-grouper species in federal waters of the South Atlantic. Descending devices help to quickly transport a fish back to the reef or seafloor, giving it a much better chance to survive after having been caught. The descending device—usually a weighted hook, lip clamp, or box that will hold the fish while it is lowered to depth—must be readily available for use and attached to at least 16 ounces of weight and at least 60 feet of line.
In the Gulf of Mexico, almaco jack is managed under the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico. Commercial fishermen must have a federal limited access reef fish permit to commercially harvest almaco jack. Size limits help to ensure that fish grow large enough to reproduce, and commercial trip and recreational bag limits control harvest. Annual catch limits and accountability measures ensure overfishing does not occur. There are also restrictions on the use of longline gear, traps, and trawls in the Gulf of Mexico.
All anglers are required to have a venting tool or descending device rigged and ready to use when fishing for reef fish species in Gulf of Mexico federal waters. For more information, see NOAA Descend Act. Other requirements that reduce discard mortality include non-stainless steel circle hooks when fishing with natural baits and a dehooking device must be used to remove hooks.
In the Pacific, almaco jack are listed as an ecosystem component species in the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council’s five Fishery Ecosystem Plans. Fishing for this species requires an exempted fishing permit called a Special Coral Reef Ecosystem Fisheries Permit.
Harvest
In the South Atlantic exclusive economic zone (EEZ), authorized gear for snapper-grouper species includes bandit gear, bottom longline, buoy gear, handline, rod and reel, sea bass pot, and spearfishing gear. When fishing for or possessing snapper-grouper species in federal waters of the South Atlantic, the following regulations apply:
Use of a dehooking tool is required.
The use of non-stainless steel hooks is required when using hook-and-line gear with natural baits. In waters North of 28-degrees N. latitude, the use of non-offset, non-stainless steel circle hooks is required when fishing for snapper-grouper species using hook-and-line gear with natural baits.
A descending device is required on board all vessels and must be readily available for use (attached to at least 16 ounces of weight and at least 60 feet of line).
In the Gulf of Mexico, allowable gear includes longline, handline, bandit gear, rod and reel, buoy gear for the commercial sectors and spear, powerhead, bandit gear, handline, rod reel, and cast net for the recreational sector. When fishing for or possessing reef fish species in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico, the following regulations apply:
Use of a dehooking tool is required.
The use of non-stainless steel hooks is required when using hook-and-line gear with natural baits.
A descending device and venting tool is required on board all vessels and must be readily available for use.
In 2022, commercial landings of almaco jack in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic totaled 170,000 pounds and were valued at approximately $240,000, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database.
Electric and hydraulic reels and hand lines are used to commercially harvest almaco jack. Recreational harvest is primarily by hook-and-line.
Almaco jack are often caught by anglers targeting amberjack and other reef fish species. In 2022, recreational anglers landed 675,000 of almaco jack in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic, according to the NOAA Fisheries recreational fishing landings database.
In the Pacific, the Hawaii state Division of Aquatic Resources records commercial catch of almaco jack as ‘kahala’. Between 2020–2023 commercial catches ranged from 8,000 to 10,000 pounds per year.
U.S. farming of almaco jack is managed to minimize environmental impacts with regulations enforced at both the federal and state levels. Learn about production, farming methods, and feeds.
Aquaculture
U.S. farmed almaco jack is a smart seafood choice because it is grown and harvested under U.S. state and federal regulations.
Environmental Impact
Federal and state regulations and monitoring requirements ensure that almaco jack farming (as practiced in the United States) has minimal impact on the environment.
Feeds
Farmed almaco jack are efficient at converting fish feed to edible protein. Alternative feeds have been developed to reduce the amount of fish meal and fish oil from forage fish.
Farming Methods
Almaco jack are raised from eggs in on-land hatcheries until they are large enough to transfer to net pens in coastal waters.
Human Health
Like other marine fish, almaco jack is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Antibiotic use is strictly limited in the United States and is prescribed only on a case-by-case basis by an on-site veterinarian.
Management
Permitting for almaco jack aquaculture is governed by federal, state, and local governments. The federal agencies involved in the authorization or permitting of aquaculture in the U.S. include NOAA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food & Drug Administration, and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Amber jack are grown in large submersible net pens off of the Big Island of Hawaii near Kona. Credit: Blue Ocean Mariculture.
Almaco jack hatcheries can use wild or captive broodstock. U.S. almaco jack farming begins in on-land hatcheries, where eggs are fertilized and transferred to environmentally-controlled tanks. After hatching into fry, juvenile almaco jack are raised to about 10 to 20 grams and then transferred to a grow-out facility.
Grow-out Facilities
Farmed almaco jack grow-out facilities are submersible marine net pens, which are enclosed cages that can be submerged or raised to the surface in aquatic environments. Almaco jack remain in the pens until they reach market size of about 1.8 to 2.5 kilograms.
Feeds
Resource Efficiency
Almaco jack farming is a more resource-efficient method to produce protein compared to other animal food production. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) is the amount of feed eaten by a fish relative to the amount of food it provides for human consumption. Farmed almaco jack have a more efficient FCR than many terrestrial livestock including cows, pigs, and chickens.
Fishmeal & Fish Oil
Fishmeal and fish oil contain the balance of nutrients that most closely resemble the requirements of fish. About 67 percent of global fishmeal and oil production comes from fisheries targeted at small, pelagic fish, such as sardine, anchovy and menhaden. The remainder comes from processing fish trimmings.
The world supply of fishmeal and oil coming from fisheries has remained constant over several decades. Fishmeal and oil prices have increased dramatically over the last decade due to increased use of these fisheries for direct human consumption, and increased demand for fish oil for human nutraceuticals.
The aquaculture industry has developed feeds that use less or no fishmeal or fish oil, and has increased the use of fish processing waste. The amount of fishmeal and oil in aquaculture is decreasing and projected to continue to decrease.
Fish farming can affect water quality and the seafloor health if there is more uneaten food and fish waste than the ecosystem can handle. Potential environmental impacts are largely avoided with proper farm siting, husbandry, management, and modern technologies. Environmental data collected at potential farm sites is used to build mathematical models that help estimate the impacts of the farms. These models allow regulators to understand the risks and benefits of potential fish farms and guide decisions about siting locations.
Water Quality
Fish farms in the United States are required to meet waste discharge standards under the Clean Water Act. When farms are in areas with strong tidal currents, any additional nutrients from farming are generally not detectable in the water column.
Seafloor Impacts
U.S. almaco jack farmers use several strategies to limit the impacts of farming on the seafloor:
Choosing locations with strong tidal currents that help disperse and dilute nutrients from farm waste.
Using advanced technologies to optimize feed amounts and distribution, minimizing waste.
Leaving net pens empty for a period of time between harvests, a practice known as “fallowing.” Fallowing can also help prevent the spread of disease and parasites, including sea lice, by breaking the lifecycle of pathogens that may have inhabited the previous harvest.
Escapes
On rare occasions, farmed almaco jack can escape from marine net pens and possibly interact with their wild counterparts. To reduce the likelihood of escapes, federal and state permits require annual audits of containment management systems at all marine sites. Any escapes of farmed fish are reported to state and federal representatives for awareness and potential identification and removal. NOAA is also using models to understand the risk of escaped fish affecting the genetic diversity of wild populations.
Ecosystem Services
Aquaculture farms can provide a wide range of benefits, from creating habitat for fish and crustaceans to helping improve water quality around farm sites. These benefits are referred to as ecosystem services.
Almaco jack farms can provide ecosystem services when managed sustainably. For example, the net pens and artificial structures built for farming can also provide refuge for smaller invertebrates and may increase biological productivity directly underneath and around the cages.
Fish diseases occur naturally in the wild, but their effects can go unnoticed because dead fish quickly become prey. Vaccines, probiotics, limiting farming density, high-quality diets, and controlled use of antibiotics prevent bacterial diseases in fish.
Management of viral infections occurs through thorough monitoring, healthy growing conditions, low stress environments, and good nutrition and genetics. Parasites are controlled on farms using hydrogen peroxide and regular cage cleaning to remove foulants.
Most states have comprehensive aquatic animal health regulations, such as routine health exams by veterinarians.
Antibiotic Use
No antibiotics have been used in U.S. almaco jack production. U.S. almaco jack farmers do not give fish antibiotics to prevent diseases. In the United States, vaccines have been effective in reducing, and in some cases eliminating, the need for antibiotics. In the United States, antibiotics may only be used to treat bacterial infections in marine fish under direction of a veterinarian on a case-by-case basis. Antibiotics are considered a method of last resort and cannot be preemptively fed to fish. Special permits obtained from the Food & Drug Administration may be required.
Human Health
Contaminants
Aquaculture feeds are regulated and monitored by the Food & Drug Administration to ensure they do not contain heavy metals, methyl mercury, or other contaminants that could harm fish and human health.
Health Benefits
Like wild almaco jack, farmed almaco jack contains high levels of omega-3 fatty acids.
We conduct surveys and other research to support the sustainable management of reef fish like almaco jack. Our scientists also conduct research that supports new aquaculture technologies including farming methods, alternative feeds, and potential environmental impacts.
Science Overview
NOAA fisheries conducts various research activities on the biology, behavior, and population health of almaco jack. The results of this research are used to inform management decisions for this species. For detailed information about stock status, management, assessments, and resource trends, you can search for almaco jack, and any other species of interest, using NOAA’s StockSMART web tool.
NOAA’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center’s Aquaculture Program has also been investigating production and use of alternative feed ingredients, processing fish waste, determination of nutrient requirements, and alternative lipid sources.
Growth and Reproduction
NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center has been using genetics and genomics to evaluate broodstock selection and investigate how genetics of reared fish relate to health and fitness. Some of these trials have included a species related to almaco jack, Seriola dorsalis (California yellowtail). Additionally, Florida’s Mote Marine Laboratory is conducting research to improve captive maturation, spawning, health management, and larval rearing for almaco jack and develop hatchery techniques.
Genetics and Genomics
NOAA Fisheries and partners developed the OMEGA Model which is being used to address the genetic and ecological effects of escaped fish on wild fish of the same species.
Nutrient Impacts
The National Ocean Service’s CASS Program assesses aquaculture environmental interactions and develops spatial planning and ecoforecasting tools.
Farming Methods
Blue Ocean Mariculture raises almaco jack in submersible ocean cages off the coast of Hawaiʻi Island. Forever Oceans has also raised almaco jack off the coast of Hawaiʻi Island through a project that was completed by December 2021. During their permit period, Forever Oceans researched system designs and monitoring for offshore aquaculture operations. For more information, view their Final Environmental Assessment and SCREFP.
In 2017, Ocean Era was awarded a grant in partnership with Florida Sea Grant to trial a new Velella net pen pilot project in the Gulf of Mexico. In its developing phases, the project intended to raise almaco jack.
Map and GIS data representing Madison and Swanson sites and Steamboat Lumps, and the Edges fishery management closures to protect Gulf of Mexico reef fish.
Almaco jack (also known as kanpachi). Credit: Blue Ocean Mariculture
Dr. Matthew Girard examines an almaco jack on the deck of NOAA ship Henry B. Bigelow during the fall 2022 Northeast Fisheries Science Center bottom trawl survey. Credit: Dr. Katherine Bemis
Barotrauma expands gasses in a fish causing the air bladder and other organs to expand as well, making it difficult for fish to swim after release. Credit: NOAA Fisheries, Florida SeaGrant
NOAA Fisheries, in collaboration with Blue Ocean Mariculture, is conducting a multi-year pilot study to evaluate observational methods and tools for studying Hawaiian monk seal behavior. Courtesy of Blue Ocean Mariculture
Tonya Wick aboard a fishing vessel at sea in 1998. Photo courtesy of Tonya Wick
Fish on display at the market. Credit: Shutterstock
Fishermen offloading. Credit: Shutterstock
