Inhabit southern Australian waters from Coffs Harbour in northern New South Wales (Ref. 30468) to latitude 26°S in Western Australia (Ref. 27124), including Bass Strait up to Low Head, Tasmania (41°04'S) (Ref. 7300). An important commercial species in southern Australia, however, probably several species are masquerading under this species name (Ref. 9563).

Stock structure: The taxonomy and stock structure of ocean perch in Australia is not well defined. Distinct inshore and offshore forms are present in New South Wales waters. These forms may represent separate stocks or even valid species (Ref. 30468). The stock structure of ocean perch for the remainder of its Australian distribution is unknown.

A closely related species, Helicolenus barathri, is known from New Zealand and its distribution may also include southern Australian waters (Ref. 30468, 30471).

Commercial fishery: Ocean perch was only a minor commercial species prior to the mid 1970s when the development of trawl fisheries commenced in deep waters off New South Wales and eastern Victoria. The present fishing area for ocean perch is mainly within the eastern sector of the South East Fishery, from Sydney to Lakes Entrance. Over 300 tonnes of Helicolenus spp. Were caught in 1993 by the South East Trawl Fishery (Ref. 33616). Ocean perch are also taken as far north as Coffs Harbour although catches are greatest south of Forster. Most of the catch is taken in depths from 350 m to 550 m and there is little change in catch rates between seasons.

Demersal otter trawling is the main method used to catch ocean perch, although only 20% of the catch is caught by target fishing operations (Ref. 30468). The remainder is taken as bycatch of target fishing for other demersal fish, and ocean perch are particularly common in catches of royal red prawns (Ref. 30468). Ocean perch are an incidental catch of Danish seining and droplining in small quantities are also caught in rock lobster (Jasus species) pots in southern Australia. Although ocean perch inhabit South Australian and Western Australian waters, the catch taken in these areas is minimal.

Ocean perch are sold whole and chilled on the domestic fresh fish markets, mainly in Sydney. They are normally sold whole and chilled.

Recreational fishery: Ocean perch are not targeted by recreational fishers, although they are occasionally caught by anglers fishing from boats in coastal waters.

Resource status: The resource status of ocean perch for Australian waters is unclear. There is some evidence that abundance has decreased off the east coast since the early 1980s (Ref. 30468).