Common Commercial Fish Species - N - P

Orange Roughy (ORH) 



Orange roughy is widespread in deep water of most temperate oceans. Within the New Zealand EEZ, it inhabits depths between 700 and at least 1500 m. Their maximum depth range is unknown.

Orange roughy are very slow-growing, long-lived fish - it has been estimated that they may live up to 120-130 years and the age at the onset of maturity, ranges from 23 to 29 years for fish from various New Zealand fishing grounds.

The main prey species include mesopelagic and benthopelagic prawns, fish, and squid, with other organisms such as mysids, amphipods and euphausiids occasionally being important.

Oreo (OEO)



Smooth oreo is a Southern Hemisphere species occuring from depths of 650 to 1 500 m. Black oreo have been reported from New Zealand and Australia only, occurring in depths from 600 to 1 300 m.

Both species appear to have a pelagic juvenile phase. The pelagic phase may last for 5-6 years to lengths of 16-19 cm TL for smooth oreo and 4-5 years to lengths of 21-26 cm TL for black oreo. Unvalidated age estimates indicate that oreos are slow growing and long lived. Smooth oreo maximum estimated age was 86 years (51.3 cm TL fish) and black oreo maximum estimated age was 153 years (45.5 cm TL fish).

Pacific Bluefin Tuna (TOR)



Pacific bluefin are epi-pelagic opportunistic predators of fish, crustaceans and cephalopods found within the upper few hundred meters of the water column. Individuals found in New Zealand waters are mostly adults. Adult Pacific bluefin occur broadly across the Pacific Ocean, especially the waters of the North Pacific Ocean.

Adult Pacific bluefin reach a maximum size of 550 kg and lengths of 300 cm. Maturity is reached at 3 to 5 years of age and individuals live to 15+ years old.

Parore (PAR)



Parore usually occur in schools, ranging from half a dozen to several hundred individuals. There is evidence that some individual large parore may display territorial behaviour on some reef systems. However, work on parore in Australia has shown that parore is capable of moving distances of hundreds of kilometres.

The average size of parore is about 30-40 cm in length, reaching a maximum of at least 60 cm in length. The maximum age for this species on the North Island east coast is 10 years.

Paua (PAU)



Paua inhabit shallow waters (generally less than 6m) off the coastline of New Zealand. They can form large aggregations on rocky reefs. Movement is over a sufficiently small spatial scale that the species may be considered sedentary.

Adult size ranges from 7 - 14 cm in some areas and 10 - 12 cm in other areas. They are thought to be long lived and slow growing.

Paua are herbivores (including red and brown seaweeds).

Pipi (PPI)



Pipi are found throughout New Zealand, including the Chatham and Auckland Islands. They are only found in harbours and very sheltered beaches, occurring both inter-tidally and sub-tidally.

Pipi are sexually mature by a size of 40 mm. Pipi reproduce in a spawning process that begins in early spring, and continues through spring and summer.

Virtually all (99%), of the commercial pipi catch in New Zealand comes from Mair Bank.

Porae (POR)



Porae occurs on or near shallow coastal reefs, usually around areas where there is also a sandy seafloor. It is most commonly found in the depth range of 10-60 m, but can extend out to depths of over 100 m.

Porae is active during the day and tends to aggregate to form small to large groups over sandy areas. Adults are thought to occupy distinctive home ranges, with individuals residing in the same area for many years.

Porbeagle Shark (POS)



The porbeagle shark (Lamna nasus) is a member of the family Lamnidae, which also includes mako, great white, and several other shark species. Lamnid sharks are typically large, powerful, active predators.

The porbeagle shark is an oceanic pelagic species that prefers temperate to sub-antarctic waters, tending not to stray into waters above 19 degrees C.