Silver Warehou

Interesting Info

• The Silver Warehou (Seriolella punctata) is a shimmering, deep-bodied ocean fish named for the tiny dark speckles scattered across its silvery skin — like starlight across polished metal.
• It belongs to the Centrolophidae family, the same group as Blue Warehou and Barrelfish, and thrives in the cool, deep waters of southern Australia and New Zealand.
• Adult Silver Warehou live along continental shelf edges and slopes, usually between 200 and 800 m (650–2,600 ft) deep, where temperatures are cold and sunlight barely reaches. Juveniles are more adventurous, drifting nearer to the surface or around floating seaweed as they grow.
• They can grow up to 60 cm long and weigh around 3 kg, with a body shape that’s built for slow, steady cruising through deep currents rather than fast bursts of speed.
• Silver Warehou are long-lived and slow to mature, typically reaching adulthood at 4–6 years of age and living for more than 20 years. Because they grow and reproduce slowly, their populations need careful management to prevent overfishing.
• They feed mostly on small fish, krill, squid, and crustaceans, filtering through schools of planktonic life in the cold midwater zone. Their large eyes help them see in the dim blue twilight of the deep ocean.
• In Australia and New Zealand, Silver Warehou form part of mixed trawl fisheries — they’re an important commercial species, prized for their white, mild-flavoured flesh and good fillet yield.
• Silver Warehou can be recognised by its silver-blue colour, tiny dark spots along the body, and slightly shorter head profile.
• Spawning usually occurs offshore during the cooler months, with eggs and larvae drifting in the open ocean. Juveniles often gather around floating debris or kelp rafts — nature’s mobile nursery zones.