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Atlantic Cod

Gadus morhua

Also Known As

  • Cod
  • Codling
  • Scrod cod
  • Markets
  • Steakers

Although populations are well below target levels, U.S. wild-caught Atlantic cod is still a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed under a rebuilding plan that allows limited harvest by U.S. fishermen.

Atlantic codA researcher holds an Atlantic cod.Catch of Atlantic cod during a research survey.Atlantic CodAtlantic Cod

Population

Significantly below target population levels. Rebuilding plans are in place.

Fishing Rate

Reduced to end overfishing.

Habitat Impacts

Area closures and gear restrictions protect habitat that are affected by some kinds of trawl gear.

Bycatch

Regulations and the use of modified fishing gear reduce bycatch.

  • Availability

    Year-round.

  • Source

    Wild-caught from Maine to Virginia.

  • Taste

    Atlantic cod has a mild clean flavor. It is sweeter than Pacific cod.

  • Texture

    Cod has large flakes. It's less firm than haddock.

The U.S. Fishery

Fishery Management

  • NOAA Fisheries and the New England Fishery Management Council manage this fishery.
  • Managed under the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan, which includes:
    • Permitting requirements.
    • Time/area closures to control fishing effort and protect spawning fish and habitat.
    • A limit on the amount of all groundfish that can be caught (annual catch limits), as well as response measures if the catch limits are exceeded.
    • A number of measures to reduce the fishery’s impact on habitat and other species.
    • Minimum size limits to ensure that fish are able to spawn at least once before being caught.
  • The optional catch share program can be used for cod and other groundfish species, and does the following:
    • Allows fishing vessels to fish together in groups (sectors).
    • Exempts sectors from many gear and area restrictions, but they must stop fishing for groundfish once the sector catches a predetermined allotment of fish, or acquire additional quota from other sectors.
    • Allows fishermen more control over when, where, and how they fish, as well as the ability to target healthier stocks rather than overfished stocks.
  • Fishermen who choose not to join a sector must fish under regulations that limit the number of days they can fish, amount they can catch, and when and where they can fish.
  • Because the Georges Bank stock is also found in Canadian waters, the United States coordinates management of a portion of this stock with Canada. Each country carefully monitors catch to ensure that the harvest is fairly and sustainably managed.

Harvest

  • Commercial fishery:
    • The 2014 commercial landings of Atlantic cod totaled 5.17 million pounds and were valued at almost $9.36 million. Landings and values continue to trend downward.
  • Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch:
    • Otter trawls and gill nets are predominantly used to harvest cod.
    • Both gear types can incidentally catch other fish and marine mammals as bycatch.
    • Otter trawls can impact habitat, depending on where they are used.
    • Regulations close key areas to fishing year-round or seasonally to reduce fishing mortality and to protect habitat and spawning cod.
    • Size restrictions on otter trawl gear also help reduce habitat impacts.
    • Fishermen also follow a number of strict regulations and use modified fishing gear to reduce bycatch of other species.
    • If gillnets, handlines, and longlines are used to harvest cod, there is little or no impact on habitat.
    • Gillnets catch low levels of other fish but can unintentionally catch marine mammals, especially harbor porpoise and large whales and dolphins.
    • Fishermen follow a number of management measures to prevent bycatch in this fishery, including those required by the Harbor Porpoise and Large Whale Take Reduction Plans.
  • Recreational fishery:
    • Recreational fishing occurs year-round. Peak activity occurs during late autumn to early spring from Massachusetts southward. Recreational anglers cannot keep cod caught in the Gulf of Maine.
      • Regulations include minimum fish sizes and possession limits for private recreational anglers and charter and party vessels (vessels that take paying passengers).
      • Recreational vessels can fish for cod in areas otherwise closed to commercial vessels.

The Science

Population Status

  • Gulf of Maine stock:
    • According to the 2015 stock assessment, the Gulf of Maine stock is overfished and below the target biomass level.
    • A revised 10-year rebuilding plan was implemented for this stock in 2014.
  • Georges Bank stock:
    • According to the 2013 stock assessment, the Georges Bank stock is overfished.
    • The Georges Bank stock is scheduled to rebuild by 2027.
  • Both stocks are subject to overfishing. Fishing is still allowed, but at reduced levels.
  • Historically, cod was so abundant off New England that early explorers named Cape Cod for the fish. Furthermore, Gloucester was established by a colonial charter issued to profit from cod fishing, and a painted “sacred cod” carved from pine has hung in the Massachusetts state house since 1784 as a symbol of prosperity.
  • Due to high fishing pressure throughout the latter part of the 20th century, there are fewer fish in the U.S. stocks of Atlantic cod than the average for the past four decades.
  • A primary source of rebuilding potential is the number of young fish coming into the population (recruitment). Over the past 20 years, recruitment has varied for the Gulf of Maine stock, and has been well below average for the Georges Bank stock.

Location

  • In the Northwest Atlantic, cod range from Greenland to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
  • In U.S. waters, cod is most common on Georges Bank and in the western Gulf of Maine.

Atlantic Cod location map

Habitat

  • Atlantic cod live near the ocean floor along rocky slopes and ledges.
  • They prefer to live in cold water, at depths of around 30 to 500 feet, on bottoms with coarse sediments, rather than on finer mud and silt.

Physical Description

  • Atlantic cod are heavy-bodied with a large head, blunt snout, and a distinct barbel (a whisker-like organ, like on a catfish) under the lower jaw.
  • Their coloring varies, ranging from light yellowish-green to red and olive, usually with darker speckles on the head, fins, tail, and body. The belly is light colored and usually spotless. Individuals can change color readily.
  • Cod have an obvious lateral line (the faint line that runs lengthwise down each side of the fish).

Biology

  • Atlantic cod can live more than 20 years.
  • They can grow up to 51 inches and 77 pounds.
  • They are capable of reproducing at 2 to 3 years old, when they are between 12 and 16 inches long.
  • Cod spawn near the ocean floor from winter to early spring.
  • Larger females can produce 3 to 9 million eggs when they spawn.
  • They are top predators in the bottom ocean community, feeding on a variety of invertebrates and fish.

Research

  • Scientists at NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center conduct research bottom trawl surveys throughout the Northeast continental shelf every year during the fall and spring. These surveys collect data on the environment as well as biological samples from fish caught during research trawling. The data from these and other sources are used by scientists in stock assessments to estimate population size and fishing pressure.
  • Around the world, several universities and research institutions have conducted a number of research projects with industry partners to advance commercial cod production.

Last updated: 05/13/2016