For 500 years, Atlantic cod sustained the New England, Newfoundland, and European fisheries. The Grand Banks population collapsed in 1992 — and despite a 30-year moratorium, has barely recovered.

Also called: Atlantic Cod, Codfish

Native status: Native to North Atlantic; vulnerable (some populations endangered)

§ Quick facts

SizeLength 80–120 cm typical; record 200 cm (6.6 ft)
WeightAverage 5–12 kg (11–26 lb); record 96 kg (212 lb)
LifespanWild 20–25 years
OrderGadiformes
FamilyGadidae

§ Encyclopedia

The Atlantic cod is a fish of the family Gadidae, widely consumed by humans. It is also commercially known as cod or codling.

Source: Wikipedia — Atlantic cod Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Olive-brown to greenish fish with pale lateral line; small barbel on chin; three dorsal fins and two anal fins (distinguishing gadid family feature).

Similar species. Pacific Cod (different ocean). Haddock (dark spot on shoulder). Pollock (no chin barbel). Hake species (different fin structure).

Voice. Cod produce grunting and drumming sounds — likely used for spawning communication.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Smaller fish (capelin, herring, sand lance), squid, shrimp, crabs, mollusks.

Behavior. The fish that built North American maritime economies — supported the largest fisheries in colonial history. Northwest Atlantic stocks collapsed catastrophically in 1992; the Canadian moratorium on cod fishing displaced 30,000+ fishermen. Despite three decades of fishery restrictions, populations have not recovered to pre-collapse levels. Iconic example of how slow-maturing fish are vulnerable to industrial fishing.

§ Range

Cold North Atlantic from Greenland to Cape Hatteras

§ Habitat

Continental shelf and offshore banks

§ Threats

Decades of overfishing (the cardinal example), climate-driven warming pushing cod north, slow population recovery.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the atlantic cod is currently classified as Vulnerable.

§ What helps

Choose MSC-certified Pacific cod or Alaska pollock as alternatives. Support precautionary fishery management. Reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.

Support our work More ways to help

§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • NOAA Fisheries
  • ICES Cod Stock Assessment
  • Marine Stewardship Council
  • IUCN Red List 2014