Smooth Oreo belong to the Oreosomatidae family (oreos).  They are a deepwater species found only in the Southern Hemisphere and live at depths between 600 and 1200 metres.

They have a mid-grey body with darker fins and scales that can be dislodged under pressure.

Smooth Oreo Fishery

Smooth Oreo are caught year-round by deep-sea trawling along the Chatham Rise and in the south-eastern area of the EEZ.

New Zealand's Oreo (OEO) fishery is managed by strict quotas, which allow only a set amount of Oreo to be taken commercially each year, of which Smooth Oreo is a component species. This Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) was set at 18,860 metric tonnes for the 2009/10 fishing year.

Smooth Oreo Meat Quality

Fillets are firm, white and do not flake easily.  Fillets hold together while cooking and are suitable for most cooking methods.