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Seafood Watch - Seafood Guide

Haddock

© B. Guild Gillespie/www.chartingnature.com

SEAFOOD	RATING	MARKET NAMES	WHERE CAUGHT	HOW CAUGHT
Haddock			U.S. Atlantic	Hook-and-line
Haddock			U.S. Atlantic	Trawled

Haddock

Decades of overfishing have reduced haddock populations. Although it has now been stopped, populations are recovering very slowly.

Consumer Note

Haddock is occasionally called “scrod,” although this common term can refer to juvenile cod

as well.

Summary

Another species of bottom dwelling fish, haddock is an important member of the Atlantic groundfish fishery. Overfished

for many years, management was finally able to end overfishing

in 1995. This is good news and haddock populations are showing signs of recovery, but the species is still much lower in number than desired.

The majority of U.S. Atlantic haddock is caught using bottom trawl

gear, causing considerable habitat damage to seafloor habitats. Bottom trawls also catch intended and unintended species. These unintended species are unmarketable, illegal or undersized individuals that are subsequently discarded as bycatch.

Consumers should avoid trawl-caught haddock. However, hook-and-line-caught haddock, a small but growing segment of the fishery, is available as a “Good Alternative.”

Recipe Alternatives
Pacific cod and Pacific halibut are "Best Choices."

Scientific Reports About Our Ratings

Haddock Seafood Watch Report
Hook and Lining Fact Card
Trawling Fact Card

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How fish are caught or farmed makes a difference.

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