aggregates on deep sea canyon walls

Size
Length: 60–100 cm, Weight: 3–8 kg
Lifespan
10–15 years
Diet
Carnivorous. Feeds on small fish squid and crustaceans. Hunts in deep water using streamlined body for fast pursuit. Uses sharp teeth to grab slippery prey near seafloor at night.
Habitat
Deep continental slopes and seamounts between 100 and 500 metres depth. Prefers rocky bottoms and steep underwater topography. Often found in aggregations near submarine canyons.
Range
Found in temperate waters around New Zealand from Northland to Campbell Plateau. Most common off east coast of North Island and Chatham Rise. Also found in southern Australia.
Endemism
Native
Main Threats
Commercial trawl and longline fisheries are primary threat. Also threatened by bycatch in hoki and squid fisheries habitat damage from bottom trawling and recreational fishing pressure.
Population
Populations managed under New Zealand's quota management system. Species was overfished in 1980s but has since recovered under strict catch limits. Current stocks considered healthy.
Conservation Status
Not Threatened
Human Risk
harmless
Handling Note
deep sea gemfish, fragile species observe from distance
Conservation Note
Native marine fish; commercially harvested and managed under the Quota Management System rather than NZTCS.
Te Ao Māori
In Māori tradition Tikati was a fish of the deep waters. Its sharp teeth were sometimes used as small tools or ornaments. The flesh was highly valued and was often shared among iwi during gatherings along the east coast. The name Tikati refers to its sharp cutting teeth. It appears in some coastal stories as a fish of the deep a creature of the underwater canyons. It remains a symbol of abundance rather than scarcity.
Sleek silver predator of the deep continental slope. This fish was overfished and then brought back. Its firm white flesh is highly regarded for its flavour and texture. The Māori name Tikati refers to its sharp cutting teeth. It was overfished in the 1980s but careful management has allowed populations to recover. Today it is a sustainable choice for seafood lovers who want to support well-managed fisheries. A fish that is a success story. The recovery is notable. The body is elongated and streamlined with a large head and a terminal mouth. The teeth are sharp and numerous. The colour is a silvery blue-grey on the back fading to silver on the belly. The fins are dusky. The scales are small and smooth. The appearance is sleek. The design is for speed. It acts as a deep-water predator hunting near the seafloor during the day and rising into the water column at night. It uses its streamlined body for fast pursuit chasing down small fish and squid. The strategy relies on bursts of energy. The prey is swift. The chase is brief. Growth is slow taking several years to reach maturity. It can live for 15 years a moderate lifespan for a deep-water fish. This slow pace of life makes it vulnerable to overfishing. The biological clock ticks slowly. Recovery requires patience. The margin for error is thin. In the 1980s gemfish were heavily overfished. Populations collapsed. The fishery was closed. Under strict catch limits and careful management the populations have recovered. Today gemfish is a sustainable choice. The intervention was decisive. The result is positive. The system worked. The deep sea is dark. The gemfish hunts a silver streak in the current sharp teeth ready. The trawl net drags. The gemfish is caught. It does not know it was almost gone. It does not know it is a success story. The ignorance is total. The survival is accidental. It just wants to eat a squid. The quotas are working. For now. The balance holds.