What is sablefish?

The sablefish, also known as the black cod, blue cod, bluefish or coalfish, is part of the family Anoplopoma. Found in the North Pacific Ocean, the sablefish is a delicacy in many countries.

In the United States, the sablefish has a history of overfishing. The government took steps to protect the sablefish with the Magnuson-Stevens Act in 1976 and the individual fishing quota implemented in 1995. These two programs helped sablefish replenish their population and increased the safety, efficiency and value of the American sablefish fishery. As of 2015, the sablefish is the highest-valued finfish per pound in Alaskan fisheries.