Blue Cod belong to the Pinguipedidae family.  Their body colour varies depending on age.  Larger fish are more distinctly blue with greenish sides and a golden brown stripe above each eye.  Some smaller fish are mottled and show a trend towards shades of green.  Juveniles are white with a broad band of brown along the side.

Blue Cod Fishery

Blue Cod are common in colder waters from Cook Strait south and around the Chatham Islands.  Juveniles are often found in shallow water.  Adults are found at depths of up to 150 metres.  Despite this, they are predominately an inshore domestic fishery with little deepwater by-catch.  They are also found in the Marlborough Sounds and off Wanganui.  Most are now caught in cod pots.

New Zealand's Blue Cod fishery is managed by strict quotas, which allow only a set amount of Blue Cod to be taken commercially each year. This Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) was set at 2,681 metric tonnes for the 2009/10 fishing year.

Blue Cod Meat Quality

Blue Cod have medium-textured white flesh with a low oil content.  They are suitable for most cooking methods.

Product Details

HEADED AND GUTTED

A Sustainable Fishing Resource Harvested According to the New Zealand Quota Management System