Breeding at age 73: new details of endangered orange roughy’s life cycle prompt calls to limit fishing

New Zealand’s fisheries management assessed one population of orange roughy and found age of breeding was ‘unexpectedly high’. Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Ocean campaigners say that a New Zealand fishing fleet that trawls for orange roughy in waters off Tasmania should be “sent back” in light of new data about the vulnerable species.

Orange roughy is an endangered deep-sea species which, under Australia’s environmental laws, can still be fished in approved fisheries.