This species is found in South America, both Chilean and Argentine Patagonia; and also in New Zealand and Australia. In Southern Argentina, a stock assessment has been conducted for this species in 2016 (Irusta et al. 2016).

Genypterus brasiliensis has been considered a synonym of Genypterus blacodes, based on the 1999 FAO species catalogue (Froese and Pauly 2017). However, a recent study applying both morphological and molecular approaches strongly support that it should be considered as a valid species (Mabragaña et al. 2011). Thus, species identification should be analyzed more in depth in Argentina where both species may coexist.