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Seafood Watch - Seafood Guide

Pacific Cod

© B. Guild Gillespie/www.chartingnature.com
SEAFOODRATINGMARKET NAMESWHERE CAUGHTHOW CAUGHT
Atlantic Cod Best Choice: These fish are abundant, well managed and fished or farmed in environmentally friendly ways. Scrod, Whitefish Iceland, Northeast Arctic (by Norway, Russia) Hook-and-line
Atlantic Cod Good Alternative: These are good alternatives to the best choices column. There are some concerns with how they are fished or farmed – or with the health of their habitats due to other human impacts. Scrod, Whitefish Iceland, Northeast Arctic (by Norway, Russia) Bottom Gillnet, Bottom Longline, Bottom Trawl, Danish Seine
Atlantic Cod Avoid: Avoid these products for now. These fish come from sources that are overfished or fished or farmed in ways that harm the environment. Scrod, Whitefish U.S., Canadian Atlantic Trawl
Atlantic Cod Good Alternative: These are good alternatives to the best choices column. There are some concerns with how they are fished or farmed – or with the health of their habitats due to other human impacts. Scrod, Whitefish U.S. Gulf of Maine Hook-and-line
Pacific Cod Good Alternative: These are good alternatives to the best choices column. There are some concerns with how they are fished or farmed – or with the health of their habitats due to other human impacts. Alaska Cod, Gray Cod, True Cod U.S. Trawl
Pacific Cod Best Choice: These fish are abundant, well managed and fished or farmed in environmentally friendly ways. Alaska Cod, Gray Cod, True Cod U.S. Bottom Longline, Jig, Trap
Pacific Cod Avoid: Avoid these products for now. These fish come from sources that are overfished or fished or farmed in ways that harm the environment. Alaska Cod, Gray Cod, True Cod Imported Pacific Wild-caught


Pacific Cod, U.S.

Pacific cod is a "Best Choice" when caught in the U.S. Pacific Ocean by bottom longline, trap or hook-and-line.

A portion of this fishery is certified as sustainable to the standard of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).

Consumer Note

Market names for Pacific cod include Alaska cod, grey cod, true cod, Japanese cod, madara, tara and codfish.

Summary

Fishermen catch most Pacific cod with bottom longlines and trawl gear. Bottom longlines do accidentally catch seabirds but this bycatch has been reduced through effective management measures. Bottom longline, trap and hook-and-line caught Pacific cod are a "Best Choice."

Bottom trawling can damage the seafloor, destroying fish habitats. As a result trawl-caught Pacific cod is a "Good Alternative" rather than a "Best Choice" even though the population is considered healthy and abundant.

There is conflicting evidence regarding the role of the Pacific cod fishery in the decline of the endangered Steller sea lion and the northern fur seal. Measures to address this issue have been implemented, lessening the concern.

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