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Atlantic Cod
Gadus morhua
Also known as: Cod, Codfish
Atlantic Cod was once so abundant it shaped the history of nations. The 1992 collapse of cod stocks off Newfoundland was one of the greatest fishery disasters in history. Populations are slowly recovering under strict management.
Max Size
6 feet (1.8 m)
Lifespan
20-25 years
Depth
0-600 meters
Water Type
saltwater
Scientific Classification
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Gadiformes
- Family
- Gadidae
- Species
- Gadus morhua
Habitat & Distribution
Habitat
Continental shelvesCold waters
Distribution
North AtlanticNew EnglandNorthern Europe
Behavior
Cod are bottom-dwelling predators that eat fish, crabs, and other invertebrates. They form large schools and migrate seasonally between feeding and spawning grounds.
Reproduction
Cod are broadcast spawners, releasing eggs and sperm into the water column. A single large female can produce millions of eggs. Larvae drift in plankton before settling.
Conservation Status
VulnerablePopulation trend: increasing
Main Threats
- Historical overfishing
- Climate change
🎉 Fun Facts
- Cod fishing shaped the economies of entire nations
- The Cod Wars were actual conflicts between UK and Iceland
- Cod can produce up to 9 million eggs per year
- Vikings may have discovered America following cod
- Dried cod (bacalhau) is Portugal's national dish
