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Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus)

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Common name - Haddock
Scientific name - Melanogrammus aeglefinus
Rating
  • 1
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Caught at sea Demersal otter trawl, Gill net
Capture Area North East Atlantic  FAO 27
Stock Area Rockall
Stock Detail VIb
Summary
The stock is currently in a health condition and harvested sustainably however ICES recommend a reduction in fishing mortaility to keep the stock above a sustainable level in 2013 as recruitment is currently low. This is believed to be related to environmental influences on the stock. To help reduce impact of fishing on fish stocks where fishing effort is too high, the marine environment, and species, choose line-caught fish where available. When buying longline-caught haddock ask for fish caught using 'seabird-friendly' methods, see Fishing Methods for details.
Biology
Haddock is a cold-temperate (boreal) species. It is a migratory fish, found in inshore shallow waters in summer and in deep water in winter. Smaller than cod, it can attain a length of 70-100cm and can live for more than 20 years. It spawns between February and June, but mostly in March and April. In the North Sea haddock become sexually mature at an age of 3-4 years and a length of 30-40 cm.Maturity occurs later and at greater lengths in more northern areas of its range.
Stock Information
The haddock stock at Rockall is an entirely separate stock from that on the continental shelf of the British Isles. Haddock there have lower growth rates and reach a lower maximum size than other haddock populations in the Atlantic. Spawning stock biomass is assessed as having full reproductive capacity and the stock is being harvested sustainably. However recruitment is deemed weak and there is a high probability the biomass will decline to below sustainable levels in 2013. A management plan is under development and is currently being evaluated. ICES advises that on the basis of MSY landings in 2012 should be no more than 3300 t.
Capture Information
Rockall haddock is taken in directed fisheries and as bycatch in demersal and gillnet fisheries. There is potential for damage to seabed by trawling. Trawling is also associated with discarding of unwanted fish i.e. undersized and/or non-quota and/or over-quota species. ICES advises further management measures should be introduced to reduce discarding of small haddock. Last year (2010) discards were significantly reduced as a result of the small number of young haddock in the population. Longlining is a less fuel intensive and generally a more selective method of fishing. Discarding is known to be a (varying) problem for longline fisheries related to the abundance of haddock close to, but below the minimum landing size. There is also possible by-catch of shark and other non-target species including seabirds. In order to protect cold water corals a number of areas have been closed since 2007. The minimum landing size for haddock in EU waters is 30cm (27cm in Skaggerak/Kattegat).
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.