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Seafood Watch - Seafood Guide

Atlantic Cod

© Monterey Bay Aquarium
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


Atlantic Cod, U.S. and Canada

Atlantic cod has suffered from decades of overfishing, resulting in massive population declines. In addition, many cod are caught with trawls, which cause habitat damage. U.S. hook-and-line caught cod is a "Good Alternative," but consumers should "Avoid" U.S. and Canadian trawl-caught Atlantic cod. Hook-and-line caught cod from Iceland and the Northeast Arctic is a "Best Choice," while Icelandic and Northeastern Arctic cod using other catch methods is considered a "Good Alternative."

Summary

Atlantic cod is a deep-water fish, living at 1,300 feet or more on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Cod is one of several groundfish species, meaning that they live on the seafloor.

For centuries, north Atlantic cod was one of the world's largest and most reliable fisheries. However, decades of overfishing have resulted in dramatic population declines. Although many cod stocks in the Atlantic are severely depleted and still experience overfishing, cod are more abundant in Iceland and the northeast Arctic and are being fished sustainably.

Fishermen often catch cod with bottom trawl gear, which involves dragging large nets across the seafloor. Trawling damages marine habitats and produces bycatch. However, a portion of the Icelandic and northeast Arctic fisheries uses hook-and-line gear, which results in low levels of bycatch and habitat damage.

When purchasing U.S. Atlantic cod, "Avoid" trawl-caught and look for hook-and-line caught instead, a "Good Alternative."

Recipe Alternatives
Hook-and-line caught U.S. Atlantic haddock, U.S.-farmed cobia, Icelandic and Northeastern Arctic hook-and-line caught Atlantic cod and non-trawled Pacific cod are "Best Choices."

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