Southern blue whiting

Southern blue whiting
Southern blue whiting
Drawing by Dr Tony Ayling
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Gadiformes
Family: Gadidae
Genus: Micromesistius
Species: M. australis
Binomial name
Micromesistius australis
Norman, 1937

The southern blue whiting, Micromesistius australis, is a cod of the genus Micromesistius, found in the southern oceans where the temperature is between 3° and 7°C, at depths of between 50 and 900 m. Its length is between 30 and 90 cm, and maximum weight of 850 g.

In Canada, according to CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) regulations and the list of acceptable fish species names, "Micromesistius australis" (or Southern Blue Whiting) can also be referred to as Blue Cod [1][2]. This well known species is part of the "Gadidae" family and is a very versatile fish. It is most commonly filleted and served breaded or battered, but it is also well suited to pan frying, oven baking and steaming. It has flaky white fillets and mild flavor with broad appeal to children and adults alike.

There are 2 disjunct populations:

References