Guitarfish
Rhinobatos rhinobatos
Method of production — Caught at sea
Capture method — All applicable methods
Capture area — Mediterranean (FAO 37);Eastern Atlantic (FAO 34)
Stock area — All Areas
Stock detail —
All Areas
Sustainability rating
info
Sustainability overview
Guitarfish are listed by IUCN as Endangered. Its biology and inshore habitat make it highly susceptible to population depletion. Because of this, they are automatically a red-rated species.
Biology
Guitarfish tails look like those of a typical shark but their head is often triangular or a guitar-like shape. Guitarfish inhabit sandy and muddy bottoms, from the intertidal zone to about 100 m. Sometimes near rocky reefs. They are usually seen slow swimming over bottom or partially buried. It feeds on benthic invertebrates and fishes. Guitarfish are ovoviviparous, one or two litters per year with 4-10 embryos. The age at maturity is not known for either sex, nor the longevity of this species.
Stock information
Criterion score: Default red rating
info
Stock Area
All Areas
Stock information
Guitarfish are listed by IUCN as Endangered (2016) due to widespread and unregulated fishing throughout it’s range. Guitarfish populations are expected to be declining and are possibly extinct in Balearic isles. Their biology and inshore habitat make it highly susceptible to population depletion.
Due to very low populations, Guitarfish are automatically red-rated.
Management
There are a lack of management measures for Guitarfish, however, in October 2017, the Mediterranean population of the Common Guitarfish were listed as an Appendix I species under the Bonn Convention. Appendix I is the highest level of protection (and has been provided to other species such as the Whale Shark). Common Guitarfish cannot be caught and retained. The IUCN has recommended that the Mediterranean needs to designate and research critical coral reef habitat for Guitarfish (particularly when impacted by trawling), monitor Guitarfish catches and record any landings for the species.
Capture Information
Guitarfish populations undergo high exploitation rates. They are an easy target for artisanal fisheries and are likely taken as bycatch in commercial fisheries of all kinds including prawn and bottom trawl fisheries.
This system has been developed by the Marine Conservation Society to help consumers choose the most environmentally sustainable fish. For
full details, please see the full wild-capture methodology available here.
Stock or species status
| Score |
Descriptor |
| 0 |
Stock under fished and harvested within sustainable limits |
| 0.25 |
Stock fully fished and harvested within sustainable limits |
| 0.5 |
Stock level below sustainable level (BMSY) but harvested within sustainable limits |
| 0.75 |
Stock and fishing level or stock at increased risk |
| 1 |
Stock outside biological and/or safe fishing limits |
Management
| Score |
Descriptor |
| 0 |
Well-managed |
| 0.25 |
Management requires some improvement |
| 0.5 |
Partly effective management |
| 0.75 |
Poorly managed and requires considerable improvement |
| 1 |
No relevant or effective management measures in place |
Capture method and ecological effects
| Score |
Impact |
| 0 |
Very low impact |
| 0.25 |
Low impact |
| 0.5 |
Some or moderate impact |
| 0.75 |
High impact |
| 1 |
Very high impact or illegal |
Where environmental concerns from any one criteria are so great, a ‘critical fail’ may be triggered and the fishery awarded a default red
rating. For full details, please see the full wild-capture methodology available here.
References
Notarbartolo di Sciara, G., Bradai, M.N., Morey, G., Marshall, A.D., Compagno, L.J.V., Mouni, A., Hicham, M., Bucal, D., Dulvy, N., Heenan, A. & Rui Coelho. 2007. Rhinobatos rhinobatos. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2007: e.T63131A12620901. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T63131A12620901.en.
CMS. 2017. Urgent Protection Proposed for Some of the World's Most Known Species. Available at: http://www.cms.int/sites/default/files/PRESS%20RELEASE%20-%20Species%20proposals%20for%20CMS%20COP12_0.pdf
Many of the fish listed are caught in different ways and from
different areas of the sea. Some species are caught in a variety
of ways and this range shows that, within a species, some may be
fished sustainably whilst others unsustainably.
To find out the individual ratings for each fish click on the
ratings button next to the image.
'Best choices' are rated 1 and 2, Fish to Avoid are rated 5.
Ratings 3 and 4 mean don’t eat too often.
Fish that are being assessed are shown with a question mark icon and "No Rating".
This system has been developed by the Marine Conservation
Society to help consumers choose the most environmentally
sustainable fish.
Seafood sources indicated as, 'To be assessed', are those that have not yet been assessed and assigned a rating or are undergoing a period
of review. These include sources previously rated by MCS for which the rating has lapsed, due to changes in the market or MCS priorities and
resources. Given that these sources are not fully assessed, the profile should not be used to infer the current sustainability of the
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If you are interested in the sustainability of this seafood source, please let us know by emailing
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Rating 1 (light green) is associated with the most
sustainably produced seafood.
Fish to Eat are rated 1 and 2, Fish to Avoid are rated 5.
Ratings 3 and 4 mean don’t eat too often.
This system has been developed by the Marine Conservation
Society to help consumers choose the most environmentally
sustainable fish.
Rating 2 (pale green) is still a good choice, although some
aspects of its production or management could be improved
Fish to Eat are rated 1 and 2, Fish to Avoid are rated 5.
Ratings 3 and 4 mean don’t eat too often.
This system has been developed by the Marine Conservation
Society to help consumers choose the most environmentally
sustainable fish.
Rating 3 (yellow) based on available information; these
species should probably not be considered sustainable at
this time. Areas requiring improvement in the current
production may be significant. Eat only occasionally and
check www.goodfishguide.org for specific details.
Fish to Eat are rated 1 and 2, Fish to Avoid are rated 5.
Ratings 3 and 4 mean don’t eat too often.
This system has been developed by the Marine Conservation
Society to help consumers choose the most environmentally
sustainable fish.
Rating 4 (orange) should not be considered sustainable, and
the fish is likely to have significant environmental issues
associated with its production. While it may be from a
deteriorating fishery, it may be one which has improved from
a 5 rating, and positive steps are being taken. However, MCS
would not usually recommend choosing this fish.
Fish to Eat are rated 1 and 2, Fish to Avoid are rated 5.
Ratings 3 and 4 mean don’t eat too often.
This system has been developed by the Marine Conservation
Society to help consumers choose the most environmentally
sustainable fish.
'Red improver' ratings are assigned to seafood sources which have been assessed and rated 5 (red) due to significant environmental concerns
with one or more aspects of their management, capture or production, yet credible efforts to improve these issues have been agreed through a
Fisheries or Aquaculture Improvement Project – a FIP or an AIP - and work is underway. Such projects are normally publicly listed at
www.fisheryprogress.org. MCS wants to encourage environmental improvements in fisheries and fish farms, and so does not recommend avoiding
these sources, as we normally do for seafood rated 5 (red rated).
'Best choice' fish are rated 1 and 2, Fish to Avoid are rated 5.
This system has been developed by the Marine Conservation Society to help businesses and consumers choose the most environmentally
sustainable fish.
Rating 5 (red) is associated with fish to be avoided on the
basis that all or most of the criteria for sustainablilty
have not been met.
Fish to Eat are rated 1 and 2, Fish to Avoid are rated 5.
Ratings 3 and 4 mean don’t eat too often.
This system has been developed by the Marine Conservation
Society to help consumers choose the most environmentally
sustainable fish.
