Blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) fish species and information / pictures of Blue whiting - Micromesistius poutassou

Blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) fish species information

Scientific Name
Micromesistius poutassou

Common Name
Blue whiting

Biology
Found over the continental slope and shelf to more than 1000 m, but more common at 300-400 m. Feeds mostly on small crustaceans but large individuals also prey on small fish and cephalopods. Makes daily vertical migrations: surface waters at night and near the bottom during the day. Sold fresh and frozen, and also processed as oil and fishmeal (Ref. 1371).

Classification

Classified By

Risso, 1827

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Cods (Gadiformes)

Family

Cods and haddocks (Gadidae)

Distribution

Region

Northeast Atlantic

Distribution

Northeast Atlantic: Barents Sea south through the eastern Norwegian Sea, around Iceland, then in the western Mediterranean, and south along the African coast to Cape Bojador. Northwest Atlantic: southern Greenland and off southeast Canada and the northeastern coast of the USA.

Range

79°N - 26°N, 82°W - 51°E

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

150 m

Depth To - meters

3000 m

Zone

bathyalpelagic

Environment

Marine; bathypelagic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 150 - 3000 m (Ref. 3663), usually 300 - 400 m

Trophic Level

4.01 s.e. 0.68 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

50.0 cm

Common Length

22.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.7500 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: highly commercial

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (33 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.18-0.22; tm=1-5; tmax=20; Fec=6000)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated