Southern blue whiting

Latin Name: Micromesistius australis

Weight: 0.4-0.6kg

Length: 40-50cm (up to 55cm)

Family: Southern Blue Whiting are members of the Gadidae family (true cods).

Wild Caught
Farmed

Location

Southern blue whiting are found in the cool sub-Antarctic waters around New Zealand.

Key fishing areas include:
- Campbell Island Rise
- Bounty Platform
- Pukaki Rise
Typically found at depths of around 450–650 metres, and also move into midwater at night and during spawning

Most of the commercial catch comes from the Bounty Platform and Campbell Island Rise, where the largest concentrations occur.

Sustainability

Southern blue whiting is managed under New Zealand’s Fisheries Act and the Quota Management System (QMS), which sets limits on how much fish can be caught to ensure long-term sustainability.

This system is supported by ongoing scientific research, monitoring, and regular reviews of catch limits. Find out what the QMS is and how it works.

MSC Certification

New Zealand southern blue whiting fisheries (SBW 6B and SBW 6I) are certified to the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standard.

First certified in 2012, southern blue whiting was the first blue whiting fishery in the world to achieve MSC certification.
The fishery has undergone multiple reassessments and continues to meet MSC sustainability requirements.
Hoki, hake, ling and southern blue whiting fisheries are assessed together as part of MSC certification, reflecting their overlap and the way they are managed as a combined fishery complex.

Learn more about certification and access audit reports on our Third Party Certification page.

Fishing Methods

Trawl

Fishing Season

Peak Season

Off Season

Nutrition

Source: Biotin (vitamin B7), Vitamin D, Iodine, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium

Good Source: Niacin (vitamin B3), Vitamin B12, Selenium, Omega-3 fatty acids

Seafood is a highly nutritious food and is a great source of protein. Many species are low in saturated fat and a number of them are a good source of Omega 3.

Did you know?

Southern blue whiting is a small, schooling deepwater species known for its delicate white flesh and low oil content. They form large schools near the seabed and move up through the water column at night to feed on plankton and small fish.

Cooking Tips

Delicate, moist and easily flaked fish characterises southern blue whiting. It has a low oil content and firmer flesh than the blue whiting from the northern hemisphere.