Fish
Humped Rockcod
Gobionotothen gibberifrons · also called humped notothen
Carrying a distinctive raised hump behind its head, a humped rockcod spends its life along the Antarctic seafloor, its population still recovering decades after early Southern Ocean fisheries targeted the species heavily.
Overview
The humped rockcod, Gobionotothen gibberifrons, is a Near Threatened fish native to ocean and polar habitat across the continental shelf surrounding Antarctica and nearby subantarctic islands. Its distinctive body shape, history as an early commercial fishery target, and slow recovery from overfishing make it one of the more historically significant fish species found anywhere in Antarctic waters.
A fishery’s early target, still recovering
Long before better-known Antarctic fisheries targeted toothfish and icefish, the humped rockcod was among the first species heavily exploited by early Southern Ocean fishing fleets, a pressure from which its naturally slow-growing population has never fully recovered.
Status
Near Threatened, with populations remaining below historical levels following past overfishing, and slow recovery due to the species’ slow growth and long generation time.
Humped Rockcod: common questions
Why is it called the humped rockcod?
This species has a distinctive raised, rounded hump behind its head, a feature that gives the species its common name and helps distinguish it from related Antarctic fish.
Why was the humped rockcod historically important to fisheries?
This species was an important target of early commercial fishing operations in the Southern Ocean, before populations declined under heavy fishing pressure during the mid-to-late twentieth century.
Does the humped rockcod live near the seafloor or in open water?
This species spends most of its life on or near the seafloor, a bottom-dwelling lifestyle different from some related Antarctic fish that favour the open water column.
Has the humped rockcod recovered from historical overfishing?
This species has been slow to recover, a pattern linked to its slow growth rate and long generation time, both typical challenges for cold-adapted Antarctic fish populations.