Despite the past studies, the question of the stock structure of Australian orange roughy remains unresolved. Broadly, the evidence supports the concept of somewhat localised stocks although with some inter-stock migration - it is really the extent of the migration that remains unknown.

Current management plans are largely based on the premise that southern Tasmanian fish are from a distinct stock from St Helens Hill fish, yet evidence in favour or opposing this proposition is weak.

We propose here an analysis of the stock structure of Australian orange roughy based on the examination of DNA microsatellites. DNA microsatellites will enable a more powerful analysis of genetic stock structure than has hitherto been possible. The study will focus on the relationships of fish from eastern Australia (New South Wales, St Helens Hill, southern Tasmania) but will also examine samples from the Tasman Sea (in particular Lord Howe Rise), New Zealand, and, as a presumably reproductively isolated population, the North Atlantic.