South Pacific hake (Merluccius gayi gayi)

Scientific name: Merluccius gayi gayi Guichenot, 1848

The South Pacific hake (Merluccius gayi gayi) is a marine fish of the family Merlucciidae. Native range: Southeast Pacific, off the coast of Chile from Arica to Chilo? Island.

Biology

Occurs from the shallow continental shelf to the upper continental slope. Sometimes found off the bottom or in midwater. Migrates vertically to midwater at night to feed on fishes, squids and euphausiids. Moves to southern coastal areas in summer and migrates to northern deeper waters (200-500 m depth) in winter and spring. Spawning occurs at the end of the winter and during the southern spring. Marketed fresh and frozen and eaten steamed, fried, boiled and microwaved. Also utilized as fishmeal.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Merluccius gayi gayi
Family
Merlucciidae (Merluccid hakes)
Order
Gadiformes (Cods)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
87.0
Common length
50.0
Depth range
50–500 m (164–1640 ft)
Environment
Marine; bathydemersal; oceanodromous; depth range 50 - 500 m
Climate
Deep-water
Distribution
Southeast Pacific: off the coast of Chile from Arica to Chilo? Island.
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=0.1-0.2; tm=2)

Sources

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

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