Northern blue whiting

 

Whiting is a commercial fish of the North Atlantic, an important element of the ocean ecosystem.

 

Content

• What kind of fish is blue whiting?
  
• Where is blue whiting found?
  
• Where does blue whiting live?
  
• What does whiting look like?
  
• What does whiting eat?
  
• How whiting spawns
  
• Commercial significance of blue whiting
  

 

 

What kind of fish is blue whiting?

Northern whiting fish (Micromesistius poutassou) from the subfamily Gadinae, blue whiting can reach a length of 47 cm, but the usual length of whiting is 30-35 cm.

Where is blue whiting found?

Habitat of blue whiting? Blue whiting is distributed in the North Atlantic, from Iceland and Spitsbergen to the western Barents Sea. To the south, blue whiting is found as far as the Mediterranean Sea.

Where does blue whiting live?

Adult blue whiting is widespread in the pelagic zone above depths from 160 to 3000 m, living here in the water column, usually at depths of 30-400 m and up to 800 m; whiting is also found near the bottom, at a depth of 180-400 m.

What does whiting look like?

The whiting's body is elongated and low. The back is bluish-gray or greenish, the sides and belly are silvery.

The whiting's three dorsal fins are separated by very wide spaces. Two anal fins; the first one is very long. The mouth is semi-upper, the lower jaw protrudes forward; small teeth. There is no mustache on the chin.

What does whiting eat?

Blue whiting feeds on planktonic crustaceans and pelagic fish fry - cod, luminous anchovies, herring and other species.

How whiting spawns

Blue whiting becomes sexually mature reaching a length of 17-20 cm, usually 23-26 cm, at the age of 1 to 4 years. Blue whiting grows slowly and at the age of 8-10 years reaches a length of 30-35 cm.

Whiting breeds mainly above the slopes of shallow waters, at a depth of 180-360 m and deeper, at a water temperature of 8-10° and water salinity of 35-35.5°/00. Blue whiting larvae and fry are found at depths greater than 1000 m.

Commercial significance of blue whiting

Northern whiting is of great interest for fishing. It is caught in large quantities every year. Blue whiting is not only a commercial fish, but also provides food for many valuable fish species, including fish such as cod and haddock, and for mammals.

What does whiting meat taste like? Blue whiting meat tastes like hake meat. From whiting liver, which contains about 50% fat and vitamins D and A, medical fish oil and canned food can be made.