There is potential for hapuku to become one of New Zealand's highest-value aquaculture species, those in the industry believe.
Premium market opportunities for hapuku have been identified in Australasia, Asia, Europe and the United States.
In Japan, the fish is considered a highly prized sashimi (thinly sliced raw meat) product.
Accordingly, a study into whether hapuku can be effectively farmed has begun, involving the University of Otago and the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa).
Dr Mark Lokman, of the university's zoology department, is supervising data collection by students for the project.
Researchers will look at growth rates, maturity and spawning.
New Zealand Marine Studies Centre manager Tessa Mills said groper were rarely seen as babies and it was a wonderful opportunity for the public to learn more about the species.
"These babies are just 3 months old, about 10cm long, and growing fast," she said.
The almost 100 hapuku at Portobello's aquarium were bred at Niwa's Bream Bay aquaculture facility in Ruakaka, near Whangarei.
Niwa invested more than $2.5 million in the new aquaculture production and research facility to help New Zealand meet the growing demand for seafood.
Ms Mills said hapuku were usually caught when they were between 70cm and 90cm long, but they could grow up to 150cm long and weigh up to 100kg.
"The oldest known hapuku was 60 years old," she said.
Those at the aquarium were of the species Polyprion oxygeneios, common in waters around New Zealand and Australia, Ms Mills said.
"Throughout the world, species of Polyprion are highly prized and considered a delicacy and, as a result, Polyprion have been over-fished in many places.
"Its premium market position, high value and limited supply have created interest in the aquaculture sector," she said.
