The escolar or butterfish is fully exploited and is therefore under considerable pressure.
This species is often caught as bycatch in trolling or drifting longline tuna fisheries. In addition to oilfish, there is also a high level of other bycatch, including sharks, juvenile swordfish, undersized tuna, as well as endangered seabirds, turtles and small cetaceans.
The fishery for butterfish is not managed, partly due to the lack of a reliable stock estimate. Management of this species is ineffective.