Seafood Watch - Seafood Guide

Canadian Haddock

© B. Guild Gillespie/www.chartingnature.com
SEAFOODRATINGMARKET NAMESWHERE CAUGHTHOW CAUGHT
Canadian Haddock 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 Canadian Atlantic Bottom Trawl
Haddock Best Choice: These fish are abundant, well managed and fished or farmed in environmentally friendly ways. Scrod U.S. Atlantic Hook-and-line
Haddock 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 U.S. Atlantic Trawl
Haddock 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 Iceland Atlantic Wild-caught


Canadian Haddock

Haddock populations in Canada are showing signs of recovery from past overfishing. There are concerns about variable population sizes and bycatch when caught with longlines and bottom trawls, and bottom trawls also cause considerable damage to the seafloor. For these reasons, haddock from Canada is a "Good Alternative."

The Canadian Atlantic haddock fishery is certified as sustainable to the standard of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).

Consumer Note

Haddock is occasionally called "scrod," although this common term can refer to juvenile cod as well.

Summary

A bottom-dwelling fish, haddock is an important part of the Atlantic groundfish fishery. Haddock was overfished for years, but improved management ended overfishing. Stocks are no longer considered overfished - a significant improvement for the fishery. However concerns remain since populations continue to vary and are mostly composed of small, slow-growing individuals.

Haddock is caught using two types of gear - bottom trawls and bottom longlines. Both have environmental impacts. Bottom trawls cause considerable damage to seafloor habitats and both methods cause bycatch.

For these reasons haddock from the Canadian Atlantic caught with bottom longlines and bottom trawls is a "Good Alternative."


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How fish are caught or farmed makes a difference. Fishing boat