Distributed through southern Australian waters from Broken Bay, New South Wales (Ref. 7300 ) to the western region of the Great Australian Bight (Ref. 26611).

Electrophoretic studies of Australian blue grenadier indicate a single Australian stock. However, Australian and New Zealand samples may have significant differences due to genetic isolation of the 2 groups (Ref. 26612).

Commercial fishery: The Australian blue grenadier fishery has operated since the late 1970s when the first large catches were taken in Tasmanian waters. The fishery has since become an important component of the South East Fishery with catches ranging between 1500 and 2800 t liveweight. A small amount (up to 50 t per year) of blue grenadier is caught by trawlers in the Great Australian Bight Trawl Fishery.

Blue grenadier are caught throughout the South East Fishery by vessels using demersal otter trawl gear in depths of 300 to 600 m (Ref. 26613) but the main fishing ground is located near the spawning area off western Tasmania (Ref. 26566). Fishers also catch significant quantities throughout the year in southern and south-eastern Tasmanian waters and off Portland on the Victorian coast (Ref. 26613). Mid-water trawling for blue grenadier has also been tried. Most of the blue grenadier catch results from targeted fishing.

Blue grenadier are usually sold on the domestic fresh fish market. The fish are mainly processed as fillets or cutlets; however there is potential for development of markets for manufactured fish products ('surimi') which utilise blue grenadier. Some of the blue grenadier catch is also exported as frozen fillets to the United States.

Recreational fishery: Blue grenadiers are infrequently caught by anglers.

Resource status: There are no reliable estimates of stock size for this species. However, 1992 estimates of sustainable yields for blue grenadier suggest that the Australian fishery may be able to sustain catches higher than historic catch levels (Ref. 26566).

Also Ref. 9988, 58452.