Common Name:
Atlantic cod
Scientific Name:
Gadus morhua
Unique Qualities:
The Atlantic cod has a curved line along its body and a distinctive chin barbel. Colour varies from brownish to greenish or grey, becoming pale on its belly. It averages 4 kg in weight and 65 cm in length.
Can be Seen:
In the north Atlantic, cod are found from North Carolina in the south, along the coast up to Ungava Bay in northern Quebec. The Grand Banks off Newfoundland has the largest cod stocks.
Likes to Hang Out:
Cod form schools during the day and stay near the ocean bottom, usually around a depth of 600m.
Likes to Eat:
Cod feed at dawn or dusk on zooplankton and small fish, including young cod.
Status:
The Atlantic cod is listed as endangered by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). Canada and other countries overfished the species for many years. Despite a ban in fishing cod imposed by the Canadian government in 1992, there has been virtually no recovery of this species.
