Why whitefish is so tight in 2026

• Cod: Norway and Russia set the 2026 Northeast Arctic cod quota at 285,000 tons, down 16% and the lowest since 1991. Norwegian cod raw material approached USD 12,000 per ton in spring 2026.
• North Sea cod: coastal states limited the 2026 quota to 14,000 tons, 44% of the 2025 level, after scientists advised zero catch.
• Blue whiting and pollock: a 41% cut in North Atlantic blue whiting quotas pushed substitution demand toward pollock, with Russian pollock trending toward USD 2,500–3,000 per ton.
• Haddock: the Barents haddock quota rose 18%, but bycatch limits on cod have kept that extra supply from easing prices.

When the anchor species gets this expensive, buyers move part of their volume to the next whitefish on the list. Hake is usually that fish.

What Ecuadorian hake is

Ecuadorian hake is Merluccius gayi, known locally as merluza and sold in the U.S. as hake or whiting. It is caught off Ecuador's coast from Manabí to El Oro. The species has been exported since 1999 and managed under a fishery plan since 2013. In October 2025, Ecuador issued updated hake fishing rules, including closed seasons.

The flesh is white, lean and mild, with a delicate flake. That makes it a natural fit for battered and breaded portions, fish and chips, fish tacos, ceviche-style dishes and whole fried fish.

Product forms

• Whole round (WR): graded by piece weight; used for reprocessing and ethnic retail.
• Headed, gutted, tail-off (HGT): common grades of 100–300 g and 100–600 g; ideal for fried whole fish in Latin and Caribbean foodservice.
• Fillets, skin-on, pin-bone out (PBO): IQF or interleaved, 100% net weight; for retail and foodservice portions.
• Fillets, skinless, PBO: IQF or interleaved, 100% net weight; for breaded and battered lines and institutional menus.

Where hake fits, and where it does not

Hake works where the recipe carries the fish: coatings, sauces, spices, frying. It is softer and more delicate than cod, so it is not the right choice for thick-cut premium loins or long hot-holding. Most buyers use it to take pressure off cod and pollock in value and mid-price lines, not to replace them entirely.

A supply caveat: El Niño

Hake is a wild, regulated fishery, and Ecuador's volumes are modest: in 2023 the country exported about 2,892 tons worth USD 8.6 million. Supply is finite and seasonal.

The strong 2026–27 El Niño adds uncertainty. In Peru, which fishes a closely related hake stock, authorities set a precautionary initial quota of 10,000 tons for July 2026–June 2027, citing juvenile fish and El Niño ocean conditions. Plan hake programs with flexible volumes and contract early in the season.

How to buy it well

• Size grades: agree piece-weight or fillet-weight ranges in writing.
• Net weight: specify 100% net weight, glaze excluded.
• Bones and parasites: for fillets, specify pin-bone out and candling inspection.
• Packing: choose IQF for portion control or interleaved for value; confirm carton size and labeling.
• Freezing history: ask whether fillets are single-frozen at origin. [Confirm Cepromar's process before publishing.]

Talk to us

Cepromar has more than 30 years of experience processing and exporting Ecuadorian whitefish, including hake, mahi-mahi, Pacific mackerel, butterfish and red snapper. [Insert: Cepromar hake forms, size grades and certifications.] Contact our team to price a hake program for your 2027 whitefish plan.

Sources: Tradex Foods on 2026 whitefish prices · NFFF on the 2026 Barents Sea quotas · Seafood Media on Norwegian cod prices · FAO GLOBEFISH on North Sea cod · SciELO study on Merluccius gayi in Ecuador · Ecuador Registro Oficial No. 144, Oct 15, 2025 · Feed Planet on Ecuador hake exports · Infobae on Peru's 2026–27 hake quota · Kch Comunicación on Cepromar at Seafood Expo North America