Cod and Grouper

Cod and Grouper

Rating

Standard Names

Several species of Rockcod, (including Goldspotted Rockcod, Banded Rockcod Black-tipped Rockcod, Longfin Rockcod, Maori Rockcod, Bluespotted Rockcod and others), Barramundi Cod, Rankin Cod, and various 'groupers', many of whom have been identified as correctly belonging to the 'Rockcod' group, and their names changed accordingly.

Not to be confused with the Eastern Red Scorpionfish, sometimes referred to as Red Rockcod

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The term 'cod' is used widely to refer to many different species of fish, often inaccurately. The fish in this catergory are for the most part 'Rockcod', which are often confused with or mislabelled as 'Groper' or 'Grouper'.

They are found in both estuarine and marine habitats, often in reef or rubble and mostly in the north of Australia. The fishery, though year round, is often sporadic, leading to higher prices and instances of subsitution and mislabelling by fishmongers. They are caught mostly by traps and bottom-set lines though are also taken by prawn and demersal fish trawlers.

The why and how of sustainability

Rankin Cod caught in WA is considered Sustainable
QLD DPI lists the Exploitation Status of Bar Rockcod (Banded Rockcod) as 'Uncertain'.
QLD DPI has made no assessment of the Exploitation status of Goldspotted Rockcod.
NSW DPI lists the Exploitation Status of Banded Rockcod as 'Undefined'.

Cods and Gropers are slow growing species which are vulnerable to overfishing. Several species considered 'vulnerable' or 'threatened'.