{"id":299,"date":"2026-03-06T11:19:49","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T11:19:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gov.fk\/fisheries\/?page_id=299"},"modified":"2026-03-06T11:20:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T11:20:49","slug":"southern-blue-whiting","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.gov.fk\/fisheries\/overview\/commercial-species\/southern-blue-whiting\/","title":{"rendered":"Southern Blue Whiting &#8211; BLU"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div class=\"yoast-breadcrumbs\"><span><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.fk\/fisheries\/\">Home<\/a><\/span> \u00bb <span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.fk\/fisheries\/overview\/\">Overview<\/a><\/span> \u00bb <span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.fk\/fisheries\/overview\/commercial-species\/\">Commercial Species<\/a><\/span> \u00bb <span class=\"breadcrumb_last\" aria-current=\"page\">Southern Blue Whiting &#8211; BLU<\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:4vh\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-post-title\">Southern Blue Whiting &#8211; BLU<\/h1>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:1vh\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-7f51fafc wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Common Names<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Southern blue whiting (UK), Bacadilla\/Merluza polaca (SP), Blekitek (PD), Patagonia-minamidara (JA)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Scientific Name<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Micromesistius australis<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Description<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Body elongate, somewhat compressed, highest at level of anus. Head moderate, slightly more than \u00bc length of body; cephalic sensory pores obvious. Interorbital flat and narrow, its width about 0.9 times diameter of eye. Eye rather large in size, about 0.6 times length of upper jaw. No barbel on tip of lower jaw. Teeth on upper consisting of two rows, inner row finely villiform and numerous, outer row depressible inward, slightly larger and sparse; teeth on lower jaw in one row, long, sparse and depressible inward; a few depressible small teeth on vomer; no teeth on palatine. Scales cycloid, thin, small and loose. Pelvic fin origin situated anterior to pectoral fin, with second fin ray elongate. Pectoral fin moderate in size. Three dorsal fins, all with short bases. First anal fin origin slightly before dorsal origin, with long base, second anal fin origin equal to third dorsal, with short base. Caudal fin with a small notch. Steely blue-grey above, with light sides and milky white belly. Numerous small black spots on scales and fin membranes. Tips of jaws and caudal fin blackish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Size Range<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">15 to 60 cm in total length.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Depth Range<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Generally greater than 150m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Distribution<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Throughout the FICZ, but the fish congregate off Cape Meredith (West Falklands) in 200-350 m water, moving inshore to spawn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fishery Status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The main fishery for this species occurs from mid August to the end of October\/mid November, with a secondary period during December and January. As the fishery progresses, the post-spawning stocks move offshore, into water deeper than 500m and are fished until they disperse to the south. Heavily parasitised with Kudoa sp. which releases enzymes into the flesh when the fish dies, rapidly reducing the quality of the flesh. For this reason, the species is of low commercial value. Fish meal or fish paste is made with the badly parasitised individuals, while the better quality individuals are filleted or headed\/gutted. Some surimi vessels only make this paste-like product to be used as a protein base for a wide variety of products like imitation crabsticks, fish cakes, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Additional Information<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Last major fishery of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><div class=\"wpcp-wp-lightbox-host wpcp-advanced-image-lightbox-icon-hover\"><a class=\"wpcp-wp-lightbox-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.fk\/fisheries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2026\/03\/Blue_Whiting1.jpg\" data-wpcp-wp-lb-image=\"1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"277\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gov.fk\/fisheries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2026\/03\/Blue_Whiting1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-301\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gov.fk\/fisheries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2026\/03\/Blue_Whiting1.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.gov.fk\/fisheries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2026\/03\/Blue_Whiting1-300x83.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.gov.fk\/fisheries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2026\/03\/Blue_Whiting1-768x213.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.fk\/fisheries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2026\/03\/Blue_Whiting1.jpg\" data-fancybox=\"wpcp-wp-img-301\" class=\"wpcp-lightbox-trigger wpcp-advanced-image-lightbox-icon wpcp-position-top-right wpcp-advanced-image-lightbox-icon-hover wpcp-global-lightbox-icon wpcp-lightbox-icon--global wpcp-lb-icon-style-default\" data-wpcp-lb-icon-source=\"global\" aria-label=\"Open image in lightbox\" data-thumb-src=\"https:\/\/www.gov.fk\/fisheries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2026\/03\/Blue_Whiting1-300x83.jpg\" data-wpcp-lb-single=\"1\"><span class=\"wpcp-icon-container\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\" fill=\"currentColor\"><path d=\"M17.6585 16.025L14.2437 12.6198C15.1716 11.3338 15.6121 9.7613 15.4871 8.1819C15.362 6.60251 14.6795 5.11847 13.5607 3.99351C12.936 3.36206 12.1916 2.86066 11.3709 2.51845C10.5502 2.17623 9.66952 2 8.77995 2C7.89039 2 7.00969 2.17623 6.18899 2.51845C5.36829 2.86066 4.62395 3.36206 3.99919 3.99351C3.36594 4.61649 2.86312 5.35871 2.51992 6.17708C2.17673 6.99545 2 7.87365 2 8.76068C2 9.64772 2.17673 10.5259 2.51992 11.3443C2.86312 12.1627 3.36594 12.9049 3.99919 13.5279C5.11957 14.6901 6.62279 15.4103 8.23285 15.5562C9.84291 15.7022 11.4517 15.2641 12.7639 14.3224L16.1788 17.7275C16.3849 17.9034 16.6473 18 16.9186 18C17.1899 18 17.4523 17.9034 17.6585 17.7275C18.1138 17.16 18.1138 16.5925 17.6585 16.025ZM5.59278 12.0523C5.16258 11.6298 4.82094 11.1263 4.58774 10.5709C4.35455 10.0156 4.23446 9.41951 4.23446 8.81744C4.23446 8.21536 4.35455 7.6193 4.58774 7.06394C4.82094 6.50859 5.16258 6.00503 5.59278 5.58257C6.01644 5.15359 6.52144 4.81292 7.07838 4.58039C7.63532 4.34786 8.23308 4.22811 8.83687 4.22811C9.44066 4.22811 10.0384 4.34786 10.5954 4.58039C11.1523 4.81292 11.6573 5.15359 12.081 5.58257C12.5112 6.00503 12.8528 6.50859 13.086 7.06394C13.3192 7.6193 13.4393 8.21536 13.4393 8.81744C13.4393 9.41951 13.3192 10.0156 13.086 10.5709C12.8528 11.1263 12.5112 11.6298 12.081 12.0523C11.6573 12.4813 11.1523 12.822 10.5954 13.0545C10.0384 13.287 9.44066 13.4068 8.83687 13.4068C8.23308 13.4068 7.63532 13.287 7.07838 13.0545C6.52144 12.822 6.01644 12.4813 5.59278 12.0523Z\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:4vh\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:#f9fafb;padding-top:10vh;padding-bottom:10vh\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">For more information, please contact <br>the Fisheries Department<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You\u2019ll find our office hours, location, and full contact details below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.fk\/fisheries\/contact-us\/\">Contact us<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Common Names Southern blue whiting (UK), Bacadilla\/Merluza polaca (SP), Blekitek (PD), Patagonia-minamidara (JA) Scientific Name Micromesistius australis Description Body elongate,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":240,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-299","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - 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