Blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou)

Scientific name: Micromesistius poutassou Risso, 1827

Blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou)

The Blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) is a marine fish of the family Gadidae.

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.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Micromesistius poutassou
Family
Gadidae (Cods and haddocks)
Order
Gadiformes (Cods)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
50.0
Common length
22.0
Depth range
150–3000 m (492–9843 ft)
Environment
Marine; bathypelagic; oceanodromous; depth range 150 - 3000 m, usually 300 - 400 m
Climate
Temperate
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.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: highly commercial
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.18-0.22; tm=1-5; tmax=20; Fec=6000)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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