Southern Blue Whiting are found in the cool sub-Antarctic water of the Campbell, Pukaki and Bounty Rises. They school near the seabed at depths of 450 and 650 metres. They also spend time in mid-water at night and during the early spring spawning season. The species is also found off the coast of South America.

Southern blue whiting are almost entirely restricted in distribution to sub-Antarctic waters. They are dispersed throughout the Campbell Island Rise and Bounty Platform for much of the year. For stock assessment purposes, it is assumed that there are four stocks, based on the main spawning areas: Campbell Island Rise, Bounty Platform, Pukaki Rise, and the Auckland Islands. The commercial fisheries focus on the spawning period and the Auckland Islands stock, and to a lesser extent the Pukaki Rise stock, are often largely unfished.  Acoustic surveys are used to monitor abundance in the main Campbell Island Rise and Bounty Platform stocks.  Recruitment of southern blue whiting can vary significantly from year to year with a single, strong, year class (fish of the same age) often dominating catches for several years.  In the Bounty Platform stock, a strong 2002 year class caused a sharp increase in abundance; this has subsequently declined but the stock is still assessed to be about the target biomass level.  The Campbell Island Rise stock has seen strong year classes in 2006, 2007 and potentially 2009 and biomass is expected to increase in the next few years as these year classes grow and dominate the fishery.  

The fishery was certified against the Marine Stewardship Council standard in 2012.

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.

Southern blue whiting is a good source of Selenium and Vitamin B12; and a source of Iodine, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Niacin (vitamin B3) and Vitamin D.

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.