Live in cold water in association with the bottom over a wide range in depths. They are bottom feeders and adults eat shellfish, clams, mussels, crabs, squid, and small fish.

SPAWNING:

Fish spawn in winter with spawning peaks in December. Females reach maturity at 2-12 year of age, depending upon their geographic location. Atlantic cod females are extremely fecund and can lay up to 9 million eggs per spawn.

GROWTH:

Ages of up to 30 years old have been recorded. Atlantic cod are large fish and can weigh over 100 lbs. and reach lengths of up to six feet.

USES:

The Atlantic cod is a high valued food fish. Cod is also popular with anglers. It is a staple of consumption in Norway, Scotland, and is widely is the most selected seafood item (finfish) on the East Coast of the United States.

CULTURE:

Atlantic cod fry can be reared artificially with reasonable survival. Cod take artificial diets and convert feed well. Induction spawning with hormones has been successful and there could be a major market for culture of cod if natural stocks continue to decline.

REFERENCES:

Iverson, E.S. and K.K. Hale. 1992. Aquaculture Sourcebook. Van
Nostrand Reinhold. New York, New York.

Landau, M. 1992. Introduction to Aquaculture. John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
New York, New York.

Williams, J.D., D.W. Gotshall, D.K. Caldwell, M.C. Caldwell. 1995.

National Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Fishes, Wales and Dolphins. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. New York, New York.