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Cod, Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua)

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Common name - Cod, Atlantic Cod
Scientific name - Gadus morhua
Rating
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Caught at sea Demersal otter trawl, Gill net
Capture Area Baltic Sea  FAO 27
Stock Area Baltic East
Stock Detail Subdivisions 25-32
Summary
The stock in Subdivisions 25-32 (eastern stock) is now within precautionary limits and harvested sustainably. Danish and Swedish fisheries in the Eastern Baltic were certified to the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standard as environmentally responsible fisheries in April and June 2011 respectively.
Biology
Cod belongs to a family of fish known as gadoids, which also includes species such as haddock, pollack, pouting, and ling. It is a cold-temperate (boreal), demersal (bottom-dwelling) species.They spawn in winter and spring from February to April. In the North Sea, cod mature at 4-5 years at a length of about 50cms and can live up to 60 years.
Stock Information
Cod is overall the most important species in the commercial fisheries in the Baltic Sea. The abundance and distribution of cod has varied considerably over time due to biological as well as anthropogenic causes. Two populations are present in the area: eastern and western Baltic cod. These cod stocks have different morphometric characters and population genetics. They overlap in the area near Bornholm Island. The eastern cod occurs in the central, eastern and northern part of the Baltic but not in significant numbers north of the Aalands Islands. The western cod inhabits the areas west of Bornholm island including the Danish Straits. The eastern population is the largest (90% eastern -10% western population), but some fluctuations in the relative proportions of the cod stocks occur due to differences and changes in exploitation level and recruitment. Despite the absence of an applicable Biological Reference Point (BRP) the stock in Subdivisions 25-32 (eastern stock) is now above any candidate reference points for Bpa, highlighting the comendable efforts put in place to recover the stock. The stock is being harvested sustainably. The management plan put in place in 2008 is currently under revision. The recruitment of this stock is strongly driven by environmental factors. For example spawning takes place in deep basins where oxygen and salinity levels are sufficiently high for eggs to survive. The amount of water with these characteristics depends mainly on the inflow of high salinity water from the North Sea. Removals of cod in recreational fisheries in the Baltic are substantial. Danish and Swedish fisheries in the Eastern Baltic were certified to the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standard as environmentally responsible fisheries in April and June 2011 respectively.
Capture Information
Gillnets in the Baltic are associated with bycatch of endangered harbour porpoises. Potential damage to seabed by trawling. Trawling also associated with discarding of unwanted fish i.e. undersized and/or non-quota and/or over-quota species. The minimum landing size for cod in EU waters is 35 cm and 38 cm in the Baltic. The approximate size at which 50% of females first spawn is however 60 to 70 cm. Fisheries for cod in the eastern Baltic has very little bycatch of other species and a limited discarding of juvenile cod. As otter trawls for cod in the east Baltic have little bycatch they are considered a best choice.
Alternatives
(Based on method of production, fish type, and consumer rating: only fish rated 3 and below are included.)
Read what the consumer pages of the Good Fish Guide say about this species.