The cod fish, Gadus morhua, is a vital species in the North Atlantic Ocean, recognized for its economic and ecological significance. With its elongated body and distinctive lateral line, cod are formidable predators, feeding on small fish and crustaceans. Their migratory behavior aligns with shifts in water temperature and prey availability. Cod play key roles in marine food webs, serving as both predator and prey. Despite facing overexploitation and population declines, conservation efforts aim to restore their numbers through sustainable fishing practices and habitat protection. Understanding cod biology and behavior is crucial for effective management and long-term conservation strategies.
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Cod Fish: Introduction and Importance...
1. DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY
PRESENTED BY: Um-e-Farwa
UOC-BSZOL-F2020/014
BS-ZOOLOGY
SESSION 2020 – 2024
SUBJECT: ICTHYOLOGY
SUBMITTED TO: DR. SYEDA NADIA AHMAD
TOPIC: Gadus morhua (cod fish)
2. TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
1 Taxonomic Classification
Distribution Interesting Facts & Importance
Morphology Behavior
Research Insights
2
4
3
6
5
7 References
9
4. INTRODUCTION
• Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) is one of the most famous cold-
water marine fish species, both from an economic and a
socio-economic point of view. In the wild, there are several
distinct stocks of Atlantic cod distributed along both sides of
the Atlantic Ocean, where individual fish can attain ages of
20 years, sizes of 160 cm and weights of 40 kg (Badiola,
2016).
6. TAXONOMIC CLASSIFICATION
● Kingdom: Animalia
● Phylum: Chordata
● Class: Actinopterygii
● Order: Gadiformes
● Family: Gadidae
● Genus: Gadus
● Species: Gadus morhua
7. DISTRIBUTION
3
• Distribution depends on factors like temperature,
salinity and ocean currents
• Primarily found in cold, temperate waters of the
North Atlantic ocean
• Inhabit depths of 10-200 meters
• found in the Arctic Ocean, particularly in the
Barents Sea and adjacent areas (Hjort et al., 2018)
8. a) Geographical Range:
• Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua ) is an economically
important demersal fish distributed across most of
the North Atlantic Ocean where it occurs in both
offshore and in coastal areas.
• Historically, they’ve been abundant in areas such
as the waters off the coast of Norway, Iceland,
Greenland, and throughout the North Sea
(Johansen et al., 2020)
9. b) Aquaculture System:
• Cod fish is extensively utilized in European countries
• The cod aquaculture industry is limited by the
supply of juveniles and their high production costs
as such, recently there has been great progress to
develop a steady and secure cod juvenile production
model, with many scientific investigations focusing
on this objective (Johansen et al., 2020).
10. c) Conservation Status:
• With its mild flavor and versatile culinary
applications, cod has been a cornerstone of traditional
dishes worldwide. However, its sustainability has been
a growing concern due to overfishing and
environmental changes.
• For instance, a study published in the journal
“Science Advances” in 2023 highlighted the
importance of ecosystem-based management strategies
in preserving cod populations in the face (Smith et al.
2023).
11. Interesting facts and Economic importance of
Gadus morhua
4
Food Industry:
Cod is a highly valued fish in the food industry.
Its meat is mild-flavored, lean, and versatile,
making it suitable for various culinary
preparations such as fillets, fish cakes, and fish
fingers (Smith, 2010).
12. Nutritional value
• Cod is rich in protein, low in fat, and a good source of
essential nutrients such as omega3 fatty acids,
vitamins, and minerals.
Pharmaceutical and cosmetics
• Cod liver oil, extracted from the liver of cod fish, is
widely used in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics due to
its high content of vitamins A and D, as well as
omega-3 fatty acids (Smith, 2010).
13. Tourism and culinary culture
• In regions where cod is a culinary staple, such as
Portugal, Norway, and Canada, it plays a vital role
in tourism and culinary culture. This cultural
significance attracts visitors and supports local
economies through tourism-related activities like
restaurants, festivals, and culinary tours (Sumaila,
2020).
14. Export Revenue
• Cod is often exported to various countries,
generating substantial revenue for fishing
nations. This trade contributes to the economy
through export earnings and job creation in the
fishing and processing sectors (Sumaila, 2020).
16. a) Scales:
• Their scales are relatively
small and cycloid, covering
the entire body surface,
providing protection against
predators and environmental
abrasions (Coad, 2018).
Fig: Cycloid Scale
https://fishbase.mnhn.fr/glossary/
Glossary.php?q=cycloid
17. b) Fins:
• It has three dorsal fins and two anal fins and
unpaired pectoral and pelvic fins. They have no
spines, and the tail fin is small and rounded. The
color can vary from greenish-grey with orange-
brown or grey mottling (Coad, 2018).
Fig: Fins of cod fish
rohitahttps://fish-commercial-
names.ec.europa.eu/fish-
names/species/gadus-morhua_en
18. c) Mouth:
• The mouth of Gadus morhua, or Atlantic cod, is
terminal, meaning it is located at the anterior
end of the head. Their ability to capture prey
near the seafloor is facilitated by their ventrally
positioned mouth, which is adapted for
scavenging and hunting in a variety of marine
environments.
20. a) Migratory Behavior:
• Cod are known for their seasonal migrations, which
are influenced by factors such as temperature, food
availability, and reproductive needs. During the
spawning season, cod migrate from their feeding
grounds to specific spawning areas where they release
eggs and sperm into the water. After spawning, they
may migrate back to feeding grounds or move to
different areas for foraging (Badiola, 2016).
21. • After fertilization, the eggs are left to develop on
their own.
• However, cod parents do not provide any further
care for their offspring.
• Once the eggs hatch into larvae, the young cod drift
with ocean currents and undergo various stages of
development before settling to the ocean floor
(Badiola, 2016).
b) Parental behavior
23. • Long distance annual migrations (many 100s of km) from
spawning to feeding grounds characterize the ecology and life-
history of largest stocks of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). The
mechanisms regulating those movements, however, have largely
remained uncertain.
• Used pop-up satellite archival tags (PSATs; carbon-fibre X-Tags)
that record depth and temperature every 2 minutes, and where
measurable light-based estimates of daily latitude and longitude.
George and sherrylynn was the first to use PSATS on Atlantic
cod over full annual migration cycles (George and sherrylynn,
2024).
RECENT RESEARCH INSIGHTS
25. • Badiola, M., Albaum, B., Curtin, R., Gartzia, I., & Mendiola, D. (2017). Land based on-growing of Atlantic cod (Gadus
morhua) using Recirculating Aquaculture Systems; a case study from the Basque region (Northern Spain). Aquaculture,
468, 428-441.
• Hjort, J., Karjalainen, O., Aalto, J., Westermann, S., Romanovsky, V. E., Nelson, F. E., … & Luoto, M. (2018). Degrading
permafrost puts Arctic infrastructureat risk by mid-century. Nature communications, 9(1), 5147.
• Sumaila, U. R., Sundseth, K., Hannesson, R., & others. (2020). Atlantic Cod: A Bio-Economic Review of a Deeply Depleted
Species. Journal of Bioeconomics, 22(3), 351–361.
• Coad, B. W., & Reist, J. D. (2018). MarineFishes of Arctic Canada. Universityof Toronto Press.
• Rose, G. A., & Rowe, S. (2024). Northern cod re-establish historical migration patterns linked to capelin: insights from
pop-up satellite archival tags. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, (ja).
• Smith, J., [et al.]. (2023). Ecosystem-Based Management Strategies for Preserving Cod Populations in a Changing Climate.
Science Advances, [VolumeNumber]([IssueNumber]), [PageRange].
• Smith, J. A. (2010). The Economic History of Cod Fishing: From Medieval Times to the Present. Journal of Fisheries
Economics, 15(2), 123-145.
• Johansen, T., Besnier, F., Quintela, M., Jorde, P. E., Glover, K. A., Westgaard, J. I., … & Kent, M. P. (2020). Genomic analysis
reveals neutral and adaptive patterns that challenge the current management regime for East Atlantic cod Gadus morhua
L. Evolutionary applications, 13(10), 2673-2688.
REFERENCES
