Blue grenadier
A slender, silvery deep-sea fish from the Southern Hemisphere.
The blue grenadier is a gadiform fish found in deep waters around New Zealand, Australia and South America. It supports major commercial fisheries and is widely sold as whitefish fillets, though its sustainability status remains debated due to trawling impacts.
- Grows up to 120 cm in length
- Found at depths of 10 to 1,000 metres
- Used in McDonald's Filet-O-Fish sandwiches
- Quotas reduced from 275,000 to 100,000 tons
- Feeds on small squids and crustaceans
What it is
The blue grenadier is a slender, silvery fish that resembles the gemfish in appearance. It belongs to the gadiform group and grows between 60 and 120 centimetres long. Its flesh is white and is typically sold as fillets. This species lives in midwater zones rather than on the seabed, feeding on smaller marine animals. It is known by several names including hoki and blue hake, reflecting its wide distribution across the Southern Hemisphere oceans.
Where it lives
This fish inhabits waters around southern Australia and New Zealand. It is also found off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of South America, ranging from Peru down to Brazil. The species prefers depths between 10 and 1,000 metres. These deep coastal and oceanic environments provide the midwater habitat where the fish feeds and matures. The wide geographic spread indicates its adaptability to various cool water conditions in these regions.
How it lives
The blue grenadier feeds in midwater layers on small squids, crustaceans and other fish. It does not dwell on the bottom but swims above it. While specific schooling behaviour is not detailed, its presence in large numbers suggests it forms significant populations. Predators are not explicitly listed, but its role as prey for larger marine animals is implied by its position in the food chain. The fish moves through deep water columns to hunt its primary diet of soft-bodied invertebrates and smaller vertebrates.
Fish and people
Hoki is a major commercial species in Australia and New Zealand. Its white meat is often processed into cutlets, battered or crumbed for retail sale. It is used in fast food items such as the Filet-O-Fish sandwich. In New Zealand, the fishery has faced scrutiny over sustainability. While it holds Marine Stewardship Council certification, environmental groups like Greenpeace have raised concerns about bottom trawling damage and bycatch of seals and birds. Quotas have been reduced significantly to address these issues.
Status and threats
Conservation opinions vary on this species. The Marine Stewardship Council certifies the New Zealand fishery as well-managed. However, Greenpeace International placed it on a seafood red list in 2010. Critics cite sea floor damage from trawling and bycatch of albatrosses and fur seals. Recent catch quotas were cut from 275,000 to 100,000 tons. A 2023 report noted that rising ocean temperatures threaten recruitment and distribution, posing future risks to the stock.
Questions people ask about Blue grenadier
Is blue grenadier the same as hoki?
Yes, hoki is a common name for the blue grenadier. It is also known as blue hake or New Zealand whiptail. These names refer to the same species, Macruronus novaezelandiae, which is popular in commercial fisheries.
Why is hoki on some seafood red lists?
Greenpeace and Forest & Bird cite damage to the sea floor from bottom trawling. They also highlight bycatch of protected species like albatrosses and fur seals. These environmental impacts led to lower sustainability ratings despite other certifications.
Where does blue grenadier live?
It is found around southern Australia and New Zealand. It also lives off the coasts of South America, from Peru to Brazil. The fish inhabits midwater zones at depths ranging from 10 to 1,000 metres.
Good reading and sources
- Blue grenadier on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Blue grenadier", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.
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