Merluza Products of the Sea

Hake Capensis or Cape Hake

Capensis hake (Merluccius capensis), also known as Cape hake, is a whitefish species that inhabits the cold waters of the Southeast Atlantic and Southwest Indian Ocean, specifically in the areas around Namibia, South Africa and Angola. Its scientific name, “capensis”, refers to the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, which is one of its major areas of distribution.

The name Cape hake also includes the species Merluccius paradoxus, which is very similar to capensis and is usually caught together.

Origin and distribution of hake Capensis:

Cape hake is found mainly in the waters off the south-west coast of Africa. The main fishing grounds are:

Namibia: The Namibian coast is one of the most important fishing grounds for Cape hake. The nutrient-rich Benguela Current creates an ideal environment for this species.

South Africa: The Atlantic waters off the west coast of South Africa, especially around the Western Cape region is another key fishing area for this species.

Physical characteristics of hake Capensis:

The hake Capensis is a fish with an elongated, silvery-grey body and a lighter belly. It has a relatively large head compared to the body.

The mouth is wide, with a prominent lower jaw. It has rows of sharp, backward-curved teeth on both jaws, suitable for capturing and holding prey.

It has two dorsal fins, the first short and high, and the second longer and lower. The caudal fin is well developed and forked.

Its scales are small and cover the whole body.

Size and weight of hake Capensis:

Adult specimens can reach lengths of up to 100 cm, although most are between 30 and 60 cm long. Weight can vary significantly, with some large specimens weighing several kilograms.

Feeding of Cape hake:

Hake Capensis is an opportunistic predator and feeds on a wide variety of marine organisms, including small fish, crustaceans and cephalopods.

It is a relatively long-lived species, living up to 24 years.

Method of capture:

The main fishing gear used is the trawl net, which works on the seabed. The species is mainly caught by medium and large vessels operating on the high seas.

Fisheries Management and Regulation:

In the above-mentioned regions, the Cape hake Capensis fishery is subject to strict regulations to avoid overexploitation. Some of these measures include:

Catch quotas: Limits set on the amount of hake that can be caught in a given period.
Fishing seasons: Restrictions on when fishing can take place to protect the species during its breeding periods.
Closed areas: Areas where fishing is prohibited to allow the recovery of hake stocks.

Economic importance of hake Capensis:

Cape hake is a species of great economic importance to the countries of the region, being a key resource for both local consumption and export. The sustainability of these fisheries is crucial to maintain their long-term viability and to protect the region’s marine ecosystems.

Imports Spain Cape Hake (Hake Capensis) 2023

importaciones merluza capensis 2023 — Fuente: http://aduanas.camaras.org/

Nutritional assessment

Hake is one of the white or lean fish, with a fat percentage of less than 3%, within which its content in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids stands out. It has a high protein content of high biological value; it is a source of minerals such as selenium, phosphorus and potassium. In terms of vitamins, vitamin B12 continues to be the most important (one serving of hake covers 80% of the recommended intake for men and women aged 20 to 39 years who do moderate physical activity), followed by vitamin B3 or niacin.

Nutritional Composition

References

https://www.mapa.gob.es/es/pesca/temas/mercados-economia-pesquera/fichas_sp_comerciales.aspx
https://fish-commercial-names.ec.europa.eu/fish-names/species/merluccius-capensis_es
https://www.mapa.gob.es/es/pesca/temas/mercados-economia-pesquera/informemerluzaabril2016_tcm30-291641.pdf
https://www.magyp.gob.ar/sitio/areas/pesca_maritima/informes/economia/_archivos//000000_Informes/800000_Exportaciones%20e%20importaciones%20pesqueras%20-%20Informes%20Anuales/000017_2022/230412_Exportaciones%20e%20Importaciones%20pesqueras%202022.pdf
http://aduanas.camaras.org
https://cronicasdefauna.blogspot.com/2019/10/conocemos-nuestro-pescado-iii-la-merluza.html
https://fen.org.es/MercadoAlimentosFEN/pdfs/merluza.pdf
https://www.alimarket.es/alimentacion/informe/352055/informe-2022-del-sector-de-pescado-y-marisco-congelado
https://www.conxemar.com/es/especies/merluza-del-cabo/
https://opromar.com/

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