SIZE : 45 cm, up to 60 cm.
LIFE EXPECTANCY : Up to 75 years.
LIFE CYCLE : Sexual maturity between 6 and 15 years.
Reproduction between male and female deepwater redfish takes place between September and December. The female keeps the fertilized eggs in her body until late spring. She then releases the hatching larvae. A female produces between 1,500 and 107,000 larvae per reproduction cycle.
In their first year of life, deepwater redfish grow to a size of around 7 to 8 cm. Thereafter, they grow by 2.5 cm per year. After 10 years, their growth rate decreases.
A long, fragile life
Compared to many other species, deepwater redfish can live a long life. But to reach an honorable age, they grow slowly and mature late. These characteristics make them all the more vulnerable to intensive fishing, as the population will take longer to have new individuals that are ready to reproduce.
This species of fish has two large, bulging eyes. The lower jaw protrudes from its wide mouth. Its color is red, sometimes a little orange.
Its body, head and gills are filled with spines. It has a long, fan-shaped spiny fin on its back.
Near the bottom, usually between 100 m and 700 m deep, but can reach depths of up to 1,400 m.
Deepwater redfish stay close to the bottom during the day and come up at night to feed.
PREY :
Crustaceans
Shrimps
Small fish
PREDATORS :
Cods
Skates
Seals
MACHINES :
Trawling, ice fishing.
REGULATIONS :
The deepwater redfish industry has been under moratorium in the Gulf of St. Lawrence since 1995. Although it was declared an endangered species in 2010, it now needs to be re-evaluated; after its phenomenal decline, deepwater redfish may be one of the most abundant fish in the St. Lawrence as of 2023. In fact, commercial fishing has been cautiously reopening since 2024, with small quotas being allocated to fishermen.
Latest research
Scientists from Fisheries and Oceans Canada have measured the mercury levels found in the muscles of the deepwater redfish caught in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Laurentian Channel. The flesh of the smaller redfish, measuring 17 cm to 30 cm, contains 20 to 30 times less mercury than the levels found in the larger fish. Eating them will therefore not be harmful to human health.
BENEFITS :
Deepwater redfish is an excellent source of Omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and vitamin B12.
LET’S COOK :
Tender, flaky texture. Mild-flavored flesh. Turns from red to white during cooking.
OUR CULINARY ADVICE :
- If purchased fresh, deepwater redfish should have bright, unclouded eyes. Its body should be shiny. Flesh should be a translucent pinkish-red.
- Be careful when cutting; their sharp spines can hurt.
- It is preferable to remove the skin, as it shrinks considerably during cooking.
- Its delicate flesh requires light cooking and seasoning. It is not suitable for all methods of frying, but in fish & chips, deepwater redfish is sure to please.
Redfish or rascasse?
In Europe, rascasse is often seen on restaurant menus. However, they are not the same species. Only Sebastes mentella can be called rascasse, and it must be specified as “Rascasse du Nord” (Northern racasse).
