Cod: Atlantic

Scrod, Whitefish

N/A

Atlantic cod is a deep-water fish, living at depths of more than 1,300 feet on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Cod is one of several “groundfish” species, referring to the fact that they live on the seafloor.

For centuries, north Atlantic cod was one of the world’s largest and most reliable fisheries. However, overfishing threatens to bring this to an end. Despite strict management in the U.S. and Canada in recent years, cod remains overfished, with some populations so depleted that they’re listed as endangered or threatened. While cod populations in Iceland and the Northeast Arctic are in better condition, overfishing still occurs in these regions.

Fishermen often catch cod with bottom trawl gear, which involves dragging large nets across the seafloor. Trawling damages marine habitats and produces unwanted bycatch. A portion of the Icelandic and Northeast Arctic fisheries don’t use habitat-damaging trawling gear.

Cod are not considered inherently vulnerable to fishing pressure, although history has shown otherwise, because they mature young (2-4 years of age) and are typically short lived. In the Gulf of Maine and George Bank stocks, there is evidence that selection via fishing has caused growth rates to increase, and age and size at maturity to decrease. These changes may negatively affect the condition of young and hence the number of individuals that successfully become a part of the adult population. Cod’s high fecundity –a large female can release up to 9 million eggs in a season- does not necessarily ensure that populations can rebound quickly from fishing pressure.

Both the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank cod stocks are overfished, and overfishing is occurring. Seven of the nine Canadian stocks are in ongoing decline; two Canadian stocks are considered to be recovering or stable. In May 2003, Canada’s government declared one cod stock “endangered” and another “threatened”, immediately halting all fishing of those stocks. The most recent stock status report for Eastern GB cod indicated that biomass had decreased from 2001 to 2003, and that with poor recruitment and exploitation rates at current levels, improvement in stock status is not expected in the near term.

The trawl fishery for cod has substantial bycatch and discard of unmarketable and undersized catch. Trip limits, used to regulate catch, are also likely to cause otherwise market-worthy fish to be discarded as fishers try to maximize the value of each trip. While increasing the allowable mesh size may have decreased bycatch, the minimum legal size for cod has recently increased, which may have increased discarding. Trawling is also known to take small numbers of marine mammals and sea turtles, but observer coverage is only 5% and logbooks may underestimate true bycatch.

Otter trawling for Atlantic cod scrapes the ocean bottom causing: 1) sediment re-suspension and smoothing, 2) removal of non-target species and3) destruction of three-dimensional habitat. Recovery is slower in muddy and structurally complex (e.g. deep sea corals and sponges) habitats, while mobile sandy sediment communities are more robust. Trawlers targeting cod and other groudfish of the US East Coast encounter all of these types of substrate, and repeated trawling in many areas is believe to have caused significant adverse changes to seabed ecosystems. A small hook and line fishery exists for cod that does not damage habitat.

Removal of substantial fish biomass in Northwest Atlantic has shifted the ecosystem towards from a bottom fish community to a pelagic/invertebrate community. It is believe that predation of juvenile bottom fish by small and now abundant pelagic species may prevent recovery of the overfished species, resulting in a permanently altered system.

Canadian cod stocks are presently considered moderately well managed, after a history of poor management, although stocks show no sign of recovery. In Canada, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) manages eight cod stocks and cooperates with the United States National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to manage the transboundary Georges Bank stock. Canadian groundfish are managed through an individual transferable quota (ITQ) system. Additional management measures used in Canada include: regular stock assessments, mandatory dockside monitoring programs financed by fishermen’s organizations, prohibition on discarding undersized target species, gear restrictions, seasonal closures and no-take fishing zones to protect habitat, Canada Coast Guard monitoring of fishing vessels.

Is this Atlantic or Pacific Cod?

Adults and children could eat 4 or more meals per month without risking exposure

No.