Fish
Blue Whiting
Micromesistius poutassou · also called poutassou
On the edge of the continental shelf west of Scotland, a vast shoal of blue whiting streams through the dim water, a river of slender fish.
Overview
The blue whiting, Micromesistius poutassou, is a Least Concern cod relative of the open waters over the north-eastern Atlantic slope. Its enormous shoals, long spawning migration, and use for fishmeal and oil make it one of the most abundant and most heavily fished fish in Europe.
A fish most people never see
Although it is caught in huge quantities, the blue whiting is mostly turned into fishmeal and oil, so few people ever meet it on a plate.
Status
Least Concern, though its numbers fluctuate widely.
Blue Whiting: common questions
Is the blue whiting the same as the whiting?
No, it is a different species, with a dark blue back, large eyes, and a very slender body, living in deeper water than the whiting.
Why is the blue whiting fished?
It is mostly caught in large numbers for fishmeal and oil, making it one of the largest fisheries in Europe.
Where does the blue whiting spawn?
It makes a long migration to spawn west of the British Isles, where large concentrations gather in late winter and spring.
Where is the blue whiting found?
It lives in open water over the continental slope of the north-eastern Atlantic, from Iceland and Norway to the Iberian coast.