Ling

(Genypterus Blacodes)

Description

Ling (Geypterus blacodes) is a member of the cusk eel family. It is coloured orange-pink and brown above, with irregular, pale, bar-like markings and blotches.

Ling is a bottom dweller, living at depths of 300-700 metres, and is usually taken by bottom longlines or bottom trawls.

Ling are mainly caught around the bottom of the South Island and over the Campbell Rise.

Ling Fishery

New Zealand’s ling fishery is managed by strict quotas, which allow only a set amount of ling to be taken commercially each year. This Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) was set at 22,226 metric tonnes for the 2009/10 fishing year.

Ling Exports

Total exports of ling in the year ended December 2008 were worth $NZ 42 million.

Spain and Hong Kong are our main markets for ling and accounts for almost 60% of the total ling export. Another important market is Australia.

Ling Meat Quality

Ling is a versatile, firm-fleshed fish that can be cooked in practically every way or can be served raw as sashimi. It has large, moist bone-free fillets that are ideal for pureeing and making into mousselines or terrines.

Profile

Length: 80-120 cm

Weight: 4-10 kg, up to 20 kg

Availability: Year-round

Flesh: Firm-fleshed, moist bone-free fillets.

Market Name
New Zealand: Ling, Kingklip

Australia: Pink Ling

Netherlands: Leng

France: Lingue

Germany: Leng

Italy: Molva

Japan: Kingukurippu, Kingu, Ashiro

Korea: Hong maegi

South Africa: Kingklip

Spain: Maruca