[2] S. sutor is one of the commercial marine fishes, which is ubiquitously caught, in Tanzania and the entire East African coast of the Indian Ocean.

Valenciennes did not explain this but it is thought to refer to the sharp spines of these fishes which may have been used to puncture leather, like an awl.

Siganus sutor shows diurnal schooling behavior and feed in shallow water habitats.

[5] The depth range of the living habitat is from 1m to 50m, but usually from 1m to 12 m.[2] When S. sutor is threatened, it will raise its dorsal fin for protection.

[10] Also, S. sutor returns to the same offshore coral patch reef aggregation site to spawn on subsequent full moons, migrating at most 3.3 km from fishing grounds closer to shore.

[10] Siganus sutors are likely to have gill parasites, such as the monogeneans Psedohaliotrema sp., Tetrancistrum sigani and Microcotyle mouwoi, the copepods Hatschekia sp., Psedolepeophtheirus sp.

Researchers had assessed the potential risks to human health and the suitability of the fishes' fins as a non-destructive monitoring organ.

[5] Wildlife Conservation Society, Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute and State Department of Fisheries have promoted modification of the basket trap by adding an escape gap to help reduce the by-catch, which then allows the juveniles and small-sized fish to swim out of the trap.