The Black Snapper, Apsilus dentatus, has been assessed as Least Concern. This species is harvested for food, however this is only a localised threat and due to the handline method of fishing used this is unlikely to be significantly impacting population numbers at present. Due to the depths at which this species can be found it is unlikely to be impacted by threats such as coastal development and pollution. In addition, this species has a broad geographic range and is known to be common.

Apsilus dentatus is distributed from the West Indies, northern Gulf of Mexico (near the West Flower Garden Bank, southeast of Galveston, Texas), and the Florida Keys, to Venezuala and Belize, including the Bahamas and the Greater and Lesser Antilles. It is thought that this species is more widely spread (FAO 2002).

The Black Snapper is reported to be very common in the Bahamas along steep drop-offs (FAO 2002).

The Black Snapper is coral-reef associated species that has a depth range of 12-300 m. It is mainly found over rocky bottoms (FAO 2002) and deep-reef, slope habitats, often beyond the shelf edge, however the young are sometimes found near the surface. It feeds on benthic cephlapods, tunicates, and ray-finned fishes and apparently spawns during most of the year (FAO 2002).

Apsilus dentatus is harvested for food using handlines (FAO 2002), this however, is not considered a major threat to this species at present. There is no reported declines in the catch of this species and it remains common throughout much its habitat.

Apsilus dentatus is harvested for food using handlines (FAO 2002).

There are no species-specific conservation measures in place for the Black Snapper, however its distribution may coincide with a number of marine protected areas.