Orange Roughy, Hoplostethus atlanticus Collett 1889
An adult Orange Roughy, Hoplostethus atlanticus, collected during the 2003 NORFANZ Expedition to survey seamount chains in the Tasman Sea. Source: Robin McPhee / NORFANZ Founding Parties. License: All rights reserved
A large reddish-orange roughy with a black membrane inside the mouth and gill chambers, and pale orange fins.
Orange Roughy are long-lived, slow-growing and late to mature. Following historic overfishing, an Orange Roughy conservation program was developed to enable Australian stocks to recover.
Footage of the secret lives of Orange Roughy filmed nearly 900 metres below the ocean surface, captured on moored underwater cameras by NIWA on the north Chatham Rise, east of New Zealand.
Orange Roughy, Hoplostethus atlanticus Collett 1889
More Info
|
Distribution |
Widespread - found around southern and south-eastern Australia and New Zealand, in the Western Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and in the Eastern Pacific Ocean off Chile. In Australian waters, Orange Roughy occur from central New South Wales, through to southwestern Australia, including Tasmania. They are also found around seamounts and ridges south of Australia and on the South Tasman and Lord Howe rises, in depths of 500-1400 m. The species forms dense spawning and feeding aggregations around seamounts, ridges, canyons and plateaus - mostly in association with deep-sea corals in water temperatures of 4-7ºC. |
|
Features |
Meristic features: Dorsal-fin VI, 15-18; Anal-fin III, 10-11 (usually 11); Pectoral fin 17-20; Caudal fin 19; Pelvic fin I, 6; Lateral line scales 27-30. Body depth 37–45% SL; eye diameter 26–33% HL; bony ridges between mucous cavities thin and delicate; cavities covered by thin skin; scales small, thin, ctenoid, weakly attached; 19–25 rather small scutes along belly. |
|
Colour |
Reddish-orange, membrane inside the mouth and gill chambers black, fins pale orange. |
|
Feeding |
Carnivore - feeds on mesopelagic and benthopelagic prawns, fishes and squid, and occasionally on other crustaceans such as mysids and amphipods. |
|
Biology |
Orange Roughy are very long-lived, very slow to mature and have low fecundity relative to other bony fishes. Ageing studies show that they do not mature until their mid-20s to mid-30s, and may grow to 150 years of age. Although widespread, Orange Roughy migrate hundreds of kilometres to form spawning aggregations over seamounts between June and August in the Southern Hemisphere. They are synchronous spawners, and form dense spawning and feeding aggregations. |
|
Fisheries |
Orange Roughy have been the focus of large commercial fisheries off southern and southeastern Australia, and around New Zealand where the largest fishery occurs. Smaller fisheries have also been established in Namibia, the northeast Atlantic, the South Indian Ocean and off Chile. In Australia, the fishery took off after the 1989 discovery of the major Orange Roughy spawning and summer fishing grounds off southern Australia. In 1990, more than 50,000 tonnes of Orange Roughy was landed in the Australian South East Trawl Fishery. Maximum catches per trawl reached 60 tonnes. In just over a decade, however, Orange Roughy stocks had collapsed due to overfishing. Orange Roughy populations worldwide are threatened by overfishing. Major fishing restrictions are now in place in Australia, and the species has been declared Conservation Dependent under Australia's EPBC Act. The soft, moist, white flesh withstands freezing well, making it very popular. However the fillets must be deep skinned to remove both the skin and the distinctive layer of oil that may cause diarrhoea. |
|
Conservation |
EPBC Act 1999 : Conservation Dependent Due to the historical level of depletion and the biology of Orange Roughy, the rebuilding of these stocks will take some years. In 2006, Orange Roughy were listed as conservation dependent in Australian waters, with most stocks reported to be well below 20% of estimated pre-fishing equilibrium biomass and closed to targeted fishing. The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) implemented the Orange Roughy Conservation Program to rebuild stocks to sustainable levels. Under the program Orange Roughy is managed using a number of separate zones. Targeting Orange Roughy is prohibited in most zones with only very low levels of incidental and unavoidable catch allowed. In the Cascade Plateau zone (south west of Tasmania) fishing for Orange Roughy has been allowed for some years as the stock has been maintained at a healthy 60 + per cent of the original stock. In the Commonwealth trawl sector, which targets popular table fish like Blue Grenadier, Tiger Flathead and Pink Ling, trawling below 700m is currently is prohibited to enable Orange Roughy to rebuild. (AFMA 2012) Kloser et al. (2015) found positive signs of a population recovery that include an increased biomass at the spawning sites since fishing ceased, a large change in the age structure of the population and a 74% increase in the reproductive potential of females since 1987. |
|
Species Citation |
Hoplostethus atlanticus Collett, 1889, Bull. Soc. Zool., France, 14: 306. Type locality: off Azores. |
|
Author |
Dianne J. Bray & Martin F. Gomon |
|
Resources |
|
Orange Roughy, Hoplostethus atlanticus Collett 1889
References
Anderson, O.F. & Clark, M.R. 2003. Analysis of the bycatch in the fishery for orange roughy, Hoplostethus atlanticus, on the South Tasman Rise. Marine and Freshwater Research 54: 643-652.
Bell, J.D., J.M. Lyle, C.M. Bulman, K.J. Graham, G.M. Newton & D.C. Smith. 1992. Spatial variation in reproduction, and occurrence of non-reproductive adults, in orange roughy Hoplostethus atlanticus (Trachichthyidae), from south-eastern Australia. Journal of Fish Biology 40: 107-122.
Branch, T.A. (2001). A Review of Orange Roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus) Fisheries, Estimation Methods, Biology and Stock Structure. Payne, A. I. L., S. C. Pillar & R. J. M. Crawford, eds. A Decade of Namibian Fisheries Science. South African Journal of Marine Science 23: 181-203.
Bull, B., I. Doonan, D. Tracey & A. Hart (2001). Diel variation in spawning orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus, Trachichthyidae) abundance over a seamount feature on the north-west Chatham Rise. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 35: 435-444.
Bulman, C.M. & J.A. Koslow (1992). Diet and food consumption of a deep-sea fish, orange roughy Hoplostethus atlanticus (Pisces: Trachichthyidae), off southeastern Australia. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 82: 115-129.
Bulman, C.M. & J.A. Koslow (1995). Development and Depth Distribution of the Eggs of Orange Roughy, Hoplostethus atlanticus (Pisces: Trachichthyidae). Marine Freshwater Research 46: 697-705.
Cailliet, G.M., A.H. Andrews, E.J. Burton, D.L. Watters, D.E. Kline & L.A. Ferry-Graham (2001). Age determination and validation studies of marine fishes: do deep-dwellers live longer? Experimental Gerontology 36: 739-764.
Carlsson J. S. Shephard, J. Coughlan, C.N. Trueman, E. Rogan & T.F. Cross. 2011. Fine-scale population structure in a deep-sea teleost (orange roughy, Hoplostethus atlanticus). Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers 58(6): 627–636. Abstract
Clark, M.R. 1996. Biomass estimation of orange roughy: a summary and evaluation of techniques for measuring stock size of a deep-water fish species in New Zealand. Journal of Fish Biology 49 (Suppl. A): 114–131.
Clark, M. 1999. Fisheries for orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus) on seamounts in New Zealand. Ocean Acta 22: 593–602.
Clark, M. 2001. Are deepwater fisheries sustainable? The example of orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus) in New Zealand. Fisheries Research 51: 123–135.
Clark, M.R., D.J. Fincham & D.M. Tracey (1994). Fecundity of orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus) in New Zealand Waters. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 28: 193-200.
Collett, R. 1889. Diagnoses de poissons nouveaux provenant des campagnes de l'Hirondelle. III. Description d'une espèce nouvelle du genre Hoplostethus. Bulletin de la Société Zoologique de France 14: 306
de Koning, J.A. (2005). Phospholipids of marine origin: the orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus). South African Journal of Science 101: 414-416.
Do, M.A. & R.F. Coombs (1989). Acoustic measurements of the population of orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus) on the north Chatham Rise, New Zealand, in winter 1986. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 23: 225-237.
Edgar, G.J., C.R. Samson & N.S. Barrett (2005). Species Extinction in the Marine Environment: Tasmania as a Regional Example of Overlooked Losses in Biodiversity. Conservation Biology 19(4): 1294-1300.
Francis, R.I.C.C. & M.R. Clark (1998). Inferring spawning migrations of orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus) from spawning ogives. Marine Freshwater Research 49: 103-108.
Gomon, M.F. 1994. Families Trachichthyidae, Monocentridae. pp. 399-412 figs 358-369 in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs.
Hilborn, R., J. Annala & D.S. Holland (2006). The cost of overfishing and management strategies for new fisheries on slow-growing fish: Orange Roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus) in New Zealand. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 63: 2149-2153.
Horn, P.L. et al. (1998) Between-area differences in age and length at first maturity of the orange roughy Hoplostethus atlanticus. Mar. Biol. 132: 187–194.
Hutchins, J.B. & Swainston, R. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete field guide for anglers and divers. Perth : Swainston Publishing 180 pp.
Kailola, P.J., M.J. Williams, P.C. Stewart, R.E. Reichelt, A. McNee & C. Grieve (1993). Australian Fisheries Resources. Canberra: Department of Primary Industries and the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, Bureau of Rural Sciences.
Kloser RJ, Sutton C, Krusic-Golub K, & Ryan TE. 2015. indicators of recovery for orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus) in eastern Australian waters fished from 1987. Fisheries Research 167: 225-235. doi:10.1016/j.fishres.2015.02.017 Abstract
Kloser, R.J., J.A. Koslow & A. Williams (1996). Acoustic Assessment of the Biomass of a Spawning Aggregation of Orange Roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus, Collett) off South-eastern Australia, 1990-93. Marine Freshwater Research 47: 1015-1024.Koslow, A. (1995). Quiet Revolution in the Deep. Australian Fisheries 54(6): 17-18.
Koslow, J.A., J. Bell, P. Virtue & D.C. Smith. 1995. Fecundity and its variability in orange roughy: Effects of population density, condition, egg size, and senescence. Journal of Fish Biology 47(6): 1063-1080.
Koslow, J.A., C.A. Bulman, J.M. Lyle & K.A. Haskard (1995). Biomass Assessment of a Deep-water Fish, the Orange Roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus), based on an Egg Survey. Marine Freshwater Research 46: 819-830.
Koslow, J.A., G.W. Boehlert, J.D.M. Gordon, R.L. Haedrich, P. Lorance & N. Parin (2000). Continental slope and deep-sea fisheries: Implications for a fragile ecosystem. ICES Journal of Marine Science 57: 548-557.
Last, P.R., Scott, E.O.G. & Talbot, F.H. 1983. Fishes of Tasmania. Hobart : Tasmanian Fisheries Development Authority 563 pp. figs.
Mace, P.M., J.M. Fenaughty, R.P. Coburn & I.J. Doonan (1990). Growth and productivity of orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus) on the north Chatham Rise. New Zealand Journal of Freshwater and Marine Research 24: 105-119.
May, J.L. & Maxwell, J.G.H. 1986. Field Guide to Trawl Fish from Temperate Waters of Australia. Hobart : CSIRO Division of Marine Research 492 pp.
Pankhurst, N.W. 1988. Spawning dynamics of orange roughy, Hoplostethus atlanticus, in midslope waters of New Zealand. Environmental Biology of Fishes 21: 101-116.
Pauly, D. & R.S.V. Pullin (1988). Hatching time in spherical, pelagic, marine fish eggs in response to temperature and egg size. Environmental Biology of Fishes 22(4): 261-271.
Pitman, L.R., J.A. Haddy & R.J. Kloser. 2013. Fishing and fecundity: The impact of exploitation on the reproductive potential of a deep-water fish, orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus). Fisheries Research 147: 312–319. Abstract
Roberts, C.M. 2002. Deep impact: the rising toll of fishing in the deep sea. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 17(5): 242-245.
Smith, P.J., S.G. Robertson, P.L. Horn, B. Bull, O.F. Anderson, B.R. Stanton & C.S. Oke (2002). Multiple techniques for determining stock relationships between orange roughy, Hoplostethus atlanticus, fisheries in the eastern Tasman Sea. Fisheries Research 58: 119-140.
Thresher, R.E. & C.H. Proctor (2007). Population structure and life history of Orange Roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus) in the SW Pacific: inferences from otolith chemistry. Marine Biology 152: 461-473.
Tilzey, R.D.J., M. Zann-Schuster, N.L. Klaer & M.J. Williams (1990). The South East Trawl Fishery: Biological synopses & catch distributions for seven major commercial fish species. Canberra, Bureau of Rural Resources.
Tracey, D.M. & P.L. Horn (1999). Background and review of ageing orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus, Trachichthyidae) from New Zealand and elsewhere. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 33: 67-86.
Yearsley, G.K., P.R. Last & R.D. Ward (1999). Australian Seafood Handbook: an Identification Guide to Domestic Species. Hobart, CSIRO Marine Research.
Varela, A.I., P.A. Ritchie & P.J. Smith. 2012. Low levels of global genetic differentiation and population expansion in the deep-sea teleost Hoplostethus atlanticus revealed by mitochondrial DNA sequences. Marine Biology 159(5): 1049-1060. Abstract
Varela, A.I., P.A. Ritchie & P.J. Smith. 2013. Global genetic population structure in the commercially exploited deep-sea teleost orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus) based on microsatellite DNA analyses. Fisheries Research 140: 83–90. DOI: 10.1016/j.fishres.2012.12.011 Abstract
White, T.A., Stefanni, S., Stamford, J. & Hoelzel, A.R. 2009. Unexpected panmixia in a long-lived, deep-sea fish with well-defined spawning habitat and relatively low fecundity. Molecular Ecology 18: 2563–2573. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-294X.2009.04218.x AbstractZeldis, J.R., P.J. Grimes & J.K.V. Ingerson (1995). Ascent rates, vertical distribution, and a thermal history model of development of orange roughy, Hoplostethus atlanticus, eggs in the water column. Fishery Bulletin. 93(2): 373-385.
