blue grenadier

{{Speciesbox

| name = Blue grenadier

| image = Macruronus novaezelandiae.jpg

| taxon = Macruronus novaezelandiae

| authority = (Hector, 1871)

| synonyms = *Coryphaenoides novaezelandiae Hector, 1871

Coryphaenoides tasmaniae Johnston, 1883

}}

The blue grenadier (also known as hoki, blue hake, New Zealand whiptail, or whiptail hake, Macruronus novaezelandiae) is a merluccid hake of the family Merlucciidae found around southern Australia and New Zealand, as well as off both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of South America from Peru to Brazil{{cite journal | author1 = Alfredo Carvalho-Filho | author2 = Guy Marcovaldi | author3 = Claudio L.S. Sampaio | author4 = M. Isabel G. Paiva | year = 2011 | title = First report of Macruronus novaezelandiae (Gadiformes, Merluccidae, Macruroninae) from Atlantic tropical waters | url = https://www.tamar.org.br/publicacoes_html/pdf/2011/2011_First_report_of_Macruronus_novaezelandiae.pdf | journal = Marine Biodiversity Records | volume = 4 | page = e49 | doi = 10.1017/S1755267211000431 | doi-broken-date = 17 May 2025 | bibcode = 2011MBdR....4E..49C }} at depths of between {{convert|10|and|1000|m|ft|sigfig=2|abbr=on}}. It feeds in midwater on small squids, crustaceans, and fish. Its length is between {{convert|60|and|120|cm|in|abbr=on}}. It is a slender, silvery fish similar in appearance to the gemfish. The meat of the fish is white and almost always sold in fillets; culinarily it is considered a whitefish.{{cite web |title=New Zealand Hoki |url=https://fishchoice.com/buying-guide/new-zealand-hoki |website=FishChoice |date=8 April 2013 |quote=when cooked is more flavorful than most other whitefish due to its higher fat content.}}

Commercial use

Australian supermarkets have many hoki products, mainly in pre-packaged processed foods.

Often the manufactured meat result is manufactured into a fish cutlet shape and then battered or crumbed to further give a good fresh look.{{Cn|date=February 2021}}

The hoki is one of the species used in McDonald's Filet-O-Fish, Fish Fingers and McFish sandwiches.{{Citation |last=Vasquez |first=Michael |date=August 24, 2009 |title=Fish or Fake? DNA Researcher Puts the 'Filet-O-Fish' to the Test |newspaper=Miami Herald |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/living/story/1199523.html }} It was previously served at Long John Silver's and Denny's restaurants in the United States, and continues to be served at Denny's in New Zealand.{{Citation |last=Broad |first=William |date=September 9, 2009 |title=From Deep Pacific, Ugly and Tasty, With a Catch |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/10/science/10fish.html |author-link= William Broad}}

The blue grenadier is a very important commercial species in Australia.{{cite web|last1=Bray|first1=Dianne|title=Blue Grenadier, Macruronus novaezelandiae|url=http://www.fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2857#moreinfo|website=Fishes of Australia|access-date=26 August 2014}} They are mostly caught in the south-east, off southern New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia and are considered very good eating, particularly when fresh.

Sustainable consumption

File:hoki fisch filet.jpg

The blue grenadier is the subject of a large commercial fishery industry in New Zealand, which has been certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) as well-managed and sustainable in March 2001. New Zealand has established a fishing quota of about 100,000 tons. The first MSC certification ended in April 2007. Reassessment of the certification commenced in early 2005 and finished in October 2007.[http://www.msc.org/track-a-fishery/certified/pacific/new-zealand-hoki/meet-the-fishers "Meet the fishers."] Marine Stewardship Council. No date. Accessed 2009-09-10 A 2009 New York Times article raised questions over the sustainability of blue grenadier fishing practices around New Zealand,{{Citation|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/10/science/10fish.html|last=Broad |first=William|date=September 9, 2009|newspaper=The New York Times|title=From Deep Pacific, Ugly and Tasty, With a Catch}} though its conclusions were disputed by New Zealand representatives.{{Citation |last=Gaines |date=September 22, 2009 |title=New York Times' report on food fish raises New Zealand industry's ire |newspaper=Gloucester Daily Times |url=http://www.gloucestertimes.com/punews/local_story_265000018.html |first=Richard}} However, recent quotas on catches have been reduced by nearly two thirds from 275,000 to 100,000 tons.{{Cn|date=February 2021}}

In 2010, Greenpeace International added the blue grenadier (hoki) to its seafood red list.[https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/oceans/sustainable-seafood/red-list-fish/ Greenpeace International Seafood Red list]. No date. Accessed 2012-03-11 The Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand (Forest & Bird) assigns hoki an E grade (red - avoid).{{cite web |url= http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/what-we-do/publications/-best-fish-guide-/hoki | title= Hoki -- The Best Fish Guide |publisher= Forest & Bird |access-date= 13 December 2014}} Both organisations state damage to the sea floor due to bottom trawling and bycatch of species such as New Zealand fur seals, albatrosses, petrels and basking sharks as the primary reasons for the ratings.{{Cn|date=February 2021}}

In September 2013, as New Zealand Hoki, it continued to appear on the MSC's list of sustainable fish.[http://www.msc.org/where-to-buy/product-finder/product_search?keywords=&species=hoki&country=US&submit=Go "Sustainable Seafood Shopping."] Marine Stewardship Council. No date. Accessed 2013-09-28

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20060521144147/http://www7.taosnet.com/platinum/data/species/hoki.html World Aquaculture's Hoki Profile]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20140107040831/http://terracuranda.org/fisheries/ Terra Curanda Fisheries Section]

blue grenadier

Category:Commercial fish

Category:Marine fish of New Zealand

Category:Marine fish of Southern Australia

blue grenadier

blue grenadier

Commercial use

Sustainable consumption

References

Further reading

External links