Louisiana Foods Fish Fact for:
CAPE CAPENSIS

In South Africa it is called "Hake"; in Spain it is known as "Merluza" and in the U. S. it is known as "Cape Capensis". Back when cod was cheap and haddock abundant (15 years ago!), capensis was sold in the U.S. as "Cape Whiting", a generic whitefish. Today, it has a name and a following. South Africa is the major producer; the U.S. and Europe are the major markets.

The story of capensis is the reverse of most: a fish that came back from the biological brink and is now the healthiest hake in the hemisphere. Harvests off South Africa are the best in 25 years with a maximum sustainable yield of just under 200,000 tons. Scientists predict that with continued careful management, the supply (including Namibia) will eventually reach 500,000 tons . . . a heck of a lot of hake.

The dominant product form is frozen, skinless, boneless fillets, but some fresh (from the inshore fleet) goes to Europe, where it is highly revered for its white flake and sweet flavor.

Species Specifications
  • Cape capensis is the common name in the U.S. for Merluccius Capensis, a small hake captured off South Africa. Formerly called "Cape Whiting", Cape capensis was authorized by the FDA in 1993.
  • Technically, Cape capensis refers to two species of hake: Merluccius Capensis   and Merluccius Paradoxus. The two are virtually identical, and no distinction is made in the market between them.
  • While capensis, (along with other hakes), is often compared to cod, (and historically substituted for cod), it is a much smaller fish, averaging about 1-1/2 pounds compared to cod at 6 to 20 pounds.
  • Capensis is taken almost exclusively by trawlers in two relatively distinct fisheries:   an inshore fishery consisting mainly of ice trawlers and an offshore fishery comprised of freezer trawlers and factory trawlers.

Longeined Capensis?
In its quest to create more jobs in the inshore fishing sector, the South African government is considering an allocation of Cape capensis to longline fishermen. Some 50 longliners completed a year long experimental fishery this spring, landing 4,000 tons out of the country's 148,000 ton quota. The relatively low entry costs of longlining appeal to the new democratic South Africa, which is committed to expanding the economic base of its major fishery.

The Roaring Forties
South African fishermen are blessed by the fact that it's clear sailing from Cape Town, the country's major fishing port, to the Antarctic Circle, with no nations in between. Clear sailing, but not smooth sailing. A band of westerly winds called the Roaring Forties build up swells to the size of small buildings during the winter, with 50 feet not at all uncommon.

Capensis is a Cold Water Fish
Cape Capensis are captured only on the Atlantic side of South Africa, not on the Indian Ocean side. The difference in temperature between the two sides, (which merge at the Cape of Good Hope), can be as much as 10 degrees celcius, (from as low as 14 degrees in the Atlantic to a high of 24 degrees on the Indian Ocean side). Thus, a fisherman can theoretically fish a cod species like capensis on one day and subtropical species such as marlin or tuna a day or two later.

The above information is from the Seafood Leader.
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