Yellowtail Kingfish

Biology and habitat

Species description
The yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi), also called yellowtail amberjack, belongs to the family of Carangidae. It is native from the Southern Hemisphere waters, found around reefs and rocks in coastal waters. 

Geographical distribution and habitat
Yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi) is found in all oceans in temperate and tropical waters.

Resource, exploitation and management

Stock and resource status/conservation measures
There is no minimum conservation size for yellowtail kingfish.
There is no catch management through TACs and quotas.

Production methods and fishing gears
The main fishing gears used are trawls and seines. Yellowtail kingfish is also farmed.

Source: Information system on commercial designations

Catches

Evolution of world catches
Yellowtail kingfish catches reached over 2.000 tonnes in 2023, i.e. 0,002% of the global catches. The majority of this is caught by the Brazilian fleet (50% of the global catches), as well as by the South African (30%) and the New Zealand fleets (14%). During the last decade (2014-2023), yellowtail kingfish catches decreased by 15% at global level in relation to the decrease of the Brazilian and South African catches (-10% and -42% respectively). In 2023, Portugal was the only EU Member State to report yellowtail kingfish catches, amounted to 3 tonnes.

Source: FAO

Aquaculture production

Evolution of world production
The global production of yellowtail kingfish progressively increased over the last decade thanks to the estblishment of Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS). Production peaked in 2022 at 1.845 tonnes. Aquaculture production of Yellowtail kingfish occurs mainly in EU countries (Denmark and Netherlands). Small volumes are produced in Chile since 2018.

The Netherlands was the largest producer until 2022, accounting for 73% of the global production. In 2023, due to the confidentiality of Dutch data, aquaculture production data is incomplete.

Source: FAO

Processing

There is no PRODCOM code referring to yellowtail kingfish processed products.

Trade

There is no detailed information regarding the trade of yellowtail kingfish products as there is no CN code specific to this species. However, it does not imply that yellowtail kingfish is not imported or exported by EU Member States.

Supply balance

No apparent consumption can be provided for yellowtail kingfish as the EUMOFA  methodology is based on production and trade data.

Marketing

National lists of commercial designations (Read more)

Information system on commercial designations and scientific names in all EU languages

There is no applicable marketing standard for Yellowatil knigfish (Seriola lalandi)

There is no name protected under Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) for Yellowtail kingfish

Consumption

Yellowtail kingfish is not among the 15th most consumed species in the EU (source: The EU Fish Market – 2025 edition, EUMOFA)

Nutritional value (Yellowtail kingfish, nutrition values per serving 100g)