Atlantic Cod
Gadus morhua
About
Cod (Gadus morhua) is one of the most common and economically important marine fishes in Norway. Atlantic cod is found extensively in the northern reaches of the Atlantic Ocean, and there are two main types; the migratory, oceanic cod and the non-migratory coastal cod.
The fishery
Of the various stocks of cod in Norwegian waters, the Norwegian Arctic cod (spawning cod) is the most important. It spends most of its life in the Barents sea, but migrates both as a juvenile and as a mature spawning cod. The cod`s spawning ground extend from the coast of Finnmark all the way down to the Stad peninsula in western Norway. The most important spawning grounds are out beyond the Lofoten Islands. The migration of spawning cod still form the basis from the most important seasonal fishing activity in Norway; the Lofoten fishing season.
Young cod in the Barents sea migrate towards the Finnmark coast in the spring in pursuit of mature spawning capelin. It`s called juvenile cod and forms the basis for the traditional spring cod fishery. Coastal cod are basically equivalent to the cod in the Barents sea, but they are more non-migratory in shallow water. They live in the intertidal zone and down to depths of approximately 600 meters.
The large stock of cod in the Barents sea is growing at a healthy rate. Each year about 450-500.000 tons are harvested from this stock.
Information
- Availability
- Size
- Fishing methods
- Use
