Blue cod

The New Zealand blue cod (Parapercis colias) is a temperate <a href="/facts/Marine_(ocean)/8W8lYgjD">marine</a> <a href="/facts/Ray-finned_fish/3PNaXXmJ">ray-finned fish</a> of the <a href="/facts/Family_(biology)/qTrn6E8E">family</a> <a href="/facts/Pinguipedidae/CGp2xDVj">Pinguipedidae</a>. It is also known by its <a href="/facts/M%25C4%2581ori_language/pVhKfILB">Māori</a> names, rāwaru, pākirikiri and patutuki, and by its other names in English, Boston blue cod, New Zealand cod or sand perch.
It is exclusively found in <a href="/facts/New_Zealand/4mpSlJdg">New Zealand</a>, in shallow waters around rocky coasts to a depth of 150 m, though it is far more common south of the <a href="/facts/Cook_Strait/yaRkmoLI">Cook Strait</a>. It is bluish green to blue-black above with white toward the belly. Large examples are usually greenish blue in colour, while smaller ones are blotched in varying shades of brown. An adult may grow to 60 cm in length and weigh from 1.0 to 3.0 kg. It feeds mainly on small fish and crabs. Blue cod is territorial. Spawning takes place in southern spring. Blue cod can also change sex from female to male.
It is an important recreational species in the <a href="/facts/South_Island/asD6NsNx">South Island</a> and is commercially harvested. Blue cod populations are managed under New Zealand's fisheries quota management system, although they are becoming scarce in some small areas due to fishing pressure. Annual catch range is between 2,000 and 2,500 <a href="/facts/Tonne/gMymLmWv">tonnes</a>.

Blue cod open-in-new

Blue cod