Description and varieties of cod fish with a photo, calorie content and nutritional value; recipes how to cook the product; benefit and harm. Cod fish, where does this valuable fish live and what does it look like

Cod fish is one of the most valuable commercial species of marine life. It is distinguished by an amazing combination of very tender, tasty and not at all fatty dietary meat and very fatty (and large) liver. Its fat content reaches 74%.

Cod is the basis of the fish diet of many northern peoples, ranging from the Pomors, continuing with the Norwegians and ending with the Aleuts. The value of this fish is difficult to underestimate.

Let's find out what sea cod is and with what, figuratively speaking, they eat it.

Formally, cod is not a species, but a genus that includes several species and individual subspecies. It occupies the following place in the accepted classification:

class - ray-finned fish;
detachment of codfishes;
cod family;
genus - cod.

Interesting! Russian name This fish has two variants of origin. First, cod was named so by the Pomors, who often used it in dried form. When dried, its meat cracks slightly. According to the second version, the name comes from the cod, which is emitted by large shoals of this fish, going to spawning grounds. This sound is produced by the muscles of the swim bladder.

AT in general terms the appearance of cod sea fish can be described as follows:

Rhomboid body with an elongated tail. It reaches its greatest width slightly behind the pectoral fins.
Large elongated head, lower jaw slightly shorter than the upper.
A characteristic "mustache" is a fleshy process on the chin (may be absent in representatives of some lacustrine endemic subspecies).
Dorsal fins - 3, anal - 2.
The characteristic color is the belly is white, the back and sides are greenish-brown or olive (depending on the species), dotted with many dark spots. The scales are small and rather sharp.

The size of cod depends on its species and subspecies, as well as age. Like many other fish, it grows throughout its life, and lives up to a maximum of 25 years (Atlantic cod). Representatives of this species can reach 1.8 m in old age, but such individuals are extremely rare. Basically, the catch comes across fish 40-80 cm in size and up to 10 years old.

Northern cod is common in the waters of all northern seas, encircling the Arctic Ocean. Despite this, it stays at depths of no more than 100 m, closer to the mainland and islands, and avoids the ocean abyss underneath.

cod varieties

There are the following types of cod:

Atlantic;
Pacific cod;
Greenland cod;
pollock.

In a separate genus sea fish cod family - arctic cod, consisting of subspecies of ice and East Siberian.

In turn, within the species of Atlantic cod, scientists distinguish such subspecies as the Baltic cod, White Sea and Kilda cod.

There are disputes about the classification of the White Sea - from the point of view of Western ichthyologists, this is the same as representatives of the Greenland breed.

Cod fish species differ in size, life span, habitat and some other parameters. The largest representative of the genus is the Atlantic, lives off the coasts of Europe and America. The southern border of the range is the Bay of Biscay and the state of South Carolina, respectively, the northern border is the Barents Sea and Greenland. Reaches a maximum weight of 90 kg.

Its subspecies live in Russia, in particular the Kilda and Baltic cod. An interesting subspecies is the Kildinskaya - an endemic of Lake Mogilnoye on the island of Kildin (Murmansk region). It has been found there since the lake was cut off from the sea by a stone rampart (about a thousand years ago). During this time, the cod shredded - its maximum is 60 cm in length - and acquired a brighter color. Its eggs from the bottom turned into pelagic, because the bottom layer of the Mogilnoye Lake is poisoned with hydrogen sulfide. We can say that in some sense it is a river fish, because the upper 5 m of water in Mogilnoye Lake are fresh. Only the middle layer is salty.

Pacific cod, also known as Far Eastern cod, is also part of Russia's natural fish resources. She is found in coastal waters Bering, Okhotsk and Japan seas. It differs from the Atlantic counterpart in a larger head in combination with smaller body proportions, as well as anatomical features swim bladder. The average length is about 50 cm, maximum 90.

The Greenland cod is one of the smallest and shortest living species. The maximum length is 85 cm, on average, the fish in the catch will be in the range of 35-40 cm. It lives off the coast of Greenland.

Recently to cod fish was officially assigned to the well-known pollock, which is ranked among separate species cod. This is a cod-like fish that lives in the range from Sea of Japan to the coast of Alaska. It has a narrow torpedo-shaped body, the color of the back varies from yellowish to black. It has the least nutritional value.

Two species of northern cod - ice and East Siberian - stand out in a separate genus. These are the smallest species, the length of their representatives does not exceed half a meter, and their weight is not more than 1.5 kg.

Habitat

This fish is schooling, walks in large schools, lives mainly in the bottom layers, although in the absolute sense it is not a bottom fish. Her favorite depths are up to 100 m, thus, the habitat includes either not very deep seas (including desalinated ones), such as the Baltic, or coastal zones and the continental shelf.

Most representatives of this genus prefer salty water, although some - the White Sea, Baltic, Kildim - have adapted to water of very moderate salinity.

Photo 1. For cod they go to the expanses of the ocean.

Food

Cod solves nutrition issues in a rather original way. It goes through two stages in development: a benthophage and a predator. Juvenile cod until reaching spawning age - 3-4 years - feeds mainly on crustaceans and mollusks from the bottom. The shells of bivalve mollusks are an obstacle for cod fry, therefore, as a rule, it bites off their "legs", thrown out of the shells for movement. Small mollusks can be swallowed whole.

Photo 2. Everyone loves shrimp, and cod too.

Small species and subspecies - arctic, kildim, etc. - can feed mainly on crustaceans and mollusks until the end of their lives. The inhabitants of the lakes can feed on mormysh, insect larvae, etc.

Seasonal Behavior

The behavior of this fish in different seasons changes as follows:

Spring (late February - May) is the spawning period. Some species make long-distance migrations, in particular, the Atlantic cod goes to spawn in the Lofoten Islands. Others simply move inland, to the border of relatively warm and cold waters.
Summer. Cod feeds at depth, in the bottom layers.
Autumn. When the level of both lighting and water temperature drops, and the depths warm up worse and worse, the cod moves to shallow water, where fat is fattening.
Winter. It winters in shallow waters, on the shelf and in the coastal zone.

Codfish like cool water, but are very dependent on light levels.

Important! The life of Atlantic cod is strongly influenced by sea currents. Cod juveniles spread across the upper part of the Atlantic precisely with their help.

Spawning

Depending on the specific habitat, temperature conditions and other factors, cod spawns from January to April or from March to May. On average, spawning in early spring from the end of February to the beginning of March.

Spawning age varies among cod species. The lower threshold is 3-4 years (pollock, other small species), the upper threshold is 7-8 years (large Atlantic cod). The average species living in the Arctic and the Pacific Ocean go to spawn by 5 years.

Eggs in a spawner - from 500 thousand to 6 million. Caviar is kept either in the bottom or in the middle water horizons, and is mostly eaten by other fish. Sea currents can carry eggs and fry for many hundreds of kilometers.

Each type of cod, except for the Kilda cod, has specific spawning grounds.

The main methods of fishing in different seasons

Cod is a predator of cold waters, feeding equally well at any time of the year. But it is preferable to catch it in autumn and winter, when, following its prey - smaller fish - it comes to the shores, and stands at depths of only about 30 m. Sometimes it can also come to the mouth of a wide river, but rarely. Thus, the main season is from October to February. Since February, the fish goes to spawning grounds and spawns at depth. After spawning, in summer, it is much more difficult to catch cod, because it keeps at great depths.

Cod is caught in daylight, special attention should be paid to sandbanks.

What tackle and bait to take?

spinning metal or fiberglass up to 2.4 m long;
0.25-0.4 mm, up to 150 m long;
resistant to salty sea water;
tee hook No. 12-14 on a leash;
hook for pulling prey.

Lures are recommended as baits, similar to small fish with a narrow body, such as herring. You can use fish bait - as well as the meat of various fish, including cod itself. The meat of mussels, other mollusks, eelpouts, etc. is also recommended. The cod eats the flesh of these animals with particular pleasure.

Photo 3. For fishing big fish you need reliable equipment.

Also red and green when overcast, or silver and orange-gold on sunny days.

cod fillet is a very popular food item these days. But few know that this is not just the basis for a very delicious meals, but also a very useful component of our daily diet. This is due to the fact that cod fillet is made from such a wonderful fish as cod.

Cod (lat. Gadus morhua) is industrial fish, which forms the family of the same name. This family has several subspecies and species that inhabit the waters of the Atlantic. The habitat of this fish has borders from Barents Sea to the coast of North Carolina, while depending on the habitat, such subspecies as Arctic cod, White Sea, Baltic and many others are distinguished. Interesting feature of this species lies in the fact that it does not really like open ocean waters, but prefers to hunt and spawn in the coastal zone, which is why cod is very convenient for industrial fishing.

The life expectancy of cod is about 30-35 years, and at this age it can reach a size of one and a half meters. But most often they use fish that have reached 35-40 cm for eating. This fish is a predator, which is why its meat is so tasty. According to statistics, it is believed that every tenth fish caught in the world is cod.

Traditions of eating cod exist in the cuisine of many peoples. It is especially popular in Norwegian cuisine, where it is consumed fried, boiled, salted and dried. But the French, Spaniards, Portuguese and Dutch are also very fond of diversifying their daily diet with cod dishes. And in the traditions of the Russian national cuisine there is even a separate, borrowed from the Dutch, word "labardan", which combines in its meaning almost all existing options preparation of representatives of the cod family.

There is another characteristic feature of this fish. The fact is that in dried form, cod retains all its rich nutritional qualities for a very long time, which made it an indispensable component of the diet of participants in various expeditions. There is even an opinion that without the use of dried cod, so many discoveries would not have been made in the North, because there would be nothing to eat on the way.

Well, the significance that the traditional preparation of cod dishes has in Russian cuisine is even reflected in the fact that the coat of arms of the city of Murmansk depicts just cod, which has the nickname “sea donkey” among the inhabitants of this city, borrowed from Hebrew.

Currently, most often on the shelves of grocery stores we can find such a product as fresh-frozen cod fillet, because a carcass already cut and ready to eat is much more convenient. This convenience allows us to significantly expand the list of dishes with which we can very quickly and easily, without spending extra time on cutting and processing, delight our family members (cod fillet cutlets, cod fillet with cheese, cod fillet soup, etc.).

Composition and useful properties

Useful properties of cod fillet are determined by its unique composition and are quite extensive. It somehow happened historically that, speaking about the benefits of cod, we automatically imagine only cod liver, which is so loved to be consumed in the form of canned food and from which a unique remedy is obtained - fish oil.

But the meat of this fish has no less useful qualities, for which cod is deservedly loved in many countries. And the northern peoples do not even imagine nutrition without it. The fact is that cod fillet is a white, layered and very tasty meat, which contains protein compounds and valuable amino acids that regulate all human life processes.

Well, the lipid part of this product is represented by useful omega-3 and omega-6 unsaturated acids, which have several beneficial effects on the body at once:

Remove excess cholesterol.
They help in the restoration and construction of cell membranes.
Can cardinally reduce the risk of developing cancers.
Improve human brain activity.

According to the content of useful trace elements and vitamins, fish equal to cod simply does not exist. In the cod fillet, we can see elements such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, copper, manganese, iron, zinc, selenium, and sulfur. In terms of vitamin composition, cod is also the leader among marine lean fish, it contains vitamins A, C, E, D, K and almost all representatives of group B. At the same time, fans of a healthy diet and various diets can be very pleased with the fact that the calorie content of cod fillet very low and is only 82 kcal per 100 grams.

Due to its composition rich in useful components, cod fillet has the following useful qualities:

Therefore, absolutely everyone should use this product, especially since palatability cod dishes stand out from other foodstuffs very strongly and are able to arouse appetite by their smell and appearance alone.

Use in cooking

The use of cod fillets in cooking is quite wide and is not limited to certain countries. It's interesting that the largest number recipes from this product can boast not some northern country in which cod is caught, but hot and passionate Portugal, in whose cooking there are more than 300 ways to cook cod.

Salads, which include cod fillet, are very popular. And in different countries like to combine this product with different ingredients:

Mediterranean salad recipes, besides cod, include tomatoes, olives, basil, spinach cheese and many ingredients. Moreover, such salads are seasoned along with olive oil also sherry, and like to flavor these dishes with garlic.
Scandinavian salads, in addition to cod, may also contain sour apples, mustard, a large number of onions, dill and other herbs. Scandinavians do not neglect mayonnaise, sometimes replacing it with sour cream.
American cod snacks may include other types of fish, which are complemented by peanut butter, noodles, lettuce. The dressing may be classic mayonnaise-based, but mustard and soy sauce recipes are sometimes found.
Russian options can be with soaked apples, radishes, a lot of greens. The most common dressing is vegetable oil.

But do not think that the use of cod fillets is limited only to salads. On the contrary, it is just beginning with them, because this product is widely used as a component of second courses. So, for example, everyone knows baked cod fillet in the oven or fried in batter in a pan. A popular method is baking cod fillet with vegetables in foil or recipes for cooking cod fillet in sour cream in a slow cooker, and the latter options are already diet food.

Interesting options for using this product for cooking recipes on the grill in American and Indian traditions. And the most important thing there is in the marinade. In America, cod fillets are marinated in sweet honey sauces and grilled. And in India, they use a large amount of hot spices and vegetable oil and cook it right on an open fire.

In American restaurants with traditional Russian cuisine, a recipe famous among emigrants from the early 20th century, owned, according to legend, by Valentin Rasputin, is popular. This is a soup based on cod boiled in milk and seasoned with heavy cream and spices. They say that this soup was the basis of the health and power of a cult person in Russian history. Therefore, it is worth diversifying your table with this useful product, especially since the variety of cooking options offered and their taste will surely delight you.

Cod fillet benefits and treatment

The benefits of cod fillet lie precisely in its composition rich in useful components. But it is impossible to name specific recipes that can be used to cure diseases, because there can be only one treatment here: increase the amount of consumption of this fish in your diet. In this case, you will be able to observe such positive results as:

The use of cod has become the norm for many peoples, mainly northern ones. And all of them are distinguished by excellent health, and their nutrition is considered one of the most correct in the world. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to their recipes and thereby help your health.

Cod fillet harm and contraindications

There are also studies according to which marine fish may contain heavy metals and other hazardous waste modern industry, so pay attention only to the products of manufacturers who guarantee the quality of their products and their safety. And it may be safer to consume farm-raised fish than wild-caught fish.

Contraindications to the use of cod are as follows:

And, of course, in order to get the maximum amount of benefit from cod fillet, you should pay attention to products that were stored and frozen only in accordance with the rules. Therefore, when buying, choose even, smooth, shiny fillet layers that have not been thawed, with a minimum amount of ice crust.

Cod is valuable commercial fish, represents the genus cod. This type of fish lives in open seas and oceans. cod valuable food product, in her skeleton there are no small spiny bones, the meat is rich in iodine, calcium, phosphorus, high-grade proteins.

Lifestyle. Food

Cod is a widespread fish in temperate and cold seas. This large view fish is characterized by rapid growth and fertility. Females are capable of throwing up to 10 million eggs. Most of them are the prey of many marine life.

By the age of three, cod grows in length up to 40-50 cm. They are characterized by a migratory lifestyle. They make long transitions associated with currents in the seas and oceans: in winter period flocks of cod go to southwest direction against the stream; in summer the cod follows the northeast with the current.

The migration zone expands with the age of the fish: the older the cod, the wider the migration zone. Cod are ready to spawn when they are eight years old. However, in warmer southern regions Sexual maturity of cod occurs at 2-3 years of age.

Track photo

Preparing for spawning, flocks of cod move northeast to sea areas rich in food. With the approach of spawning, cod liver reaches heaviest weight. By this time, the fat content in the fish liver should be at least 50%. Only under this condition is a successful spawning process ensured.

Cod feeds on plankton, juvenile herring, capelin, crustaceans, and small fish. There is a bottom species of cod that lives at a depth of about 60 meters. For this species, various mollusks, including bivalves, are used as food.

Appearance

The size of cod depends on its habitat, but the signs of the cod family are the same:

fins - three dorsal and two anal;
strong elongated body;
small scales;
jaws of various sizes - the upper jaw is longer than the lower;
on the chin there is a fleshy, well-developed barbel;
swim bladder has elongated outgrowths, with ends bent to the sides;
the color of the fish is brown-green or brown;
number of vertebrae 51-56.

The body length of cod varies depending on the range: on average, cod living in the waters of the Atlantic has a length of 80 cm, Pacific specimens are inferior in length, but differ in head size, wider and larger.

reproduction

Sexual maturation of cod is observed at the age of 4 to 8 years. However, fish that live in warmer areas start spawning at the age of two years. Cod males are somewhat behind in growth and age limit from females.

The sexual maturity of this species of fish is determined by its size. Females that have reached a length of 55-85 cm are capable of spawning, puberty of males occurs when they reach a length of 50-80 cm. They have such sizes by 4-9 years, depending on the habitat.

The number of eggs can reach 2.5 million. Spawning begins between January and May. AT northern regions this period shifts to a warmer season from March to April.

Spawning cod spends in several stages. The incubation period of cod larvae depends on the water temperature. As a rule, it lasts at least one week, but does not exceed three weeks. The fry grown up to 2-3 cm descend into the bottom area of the sea.

Cod- a popular trophy of the northern seas. Norway is unanimously considered the fishing capital of the world. Every year on its territory the world championship in catching this species is held. A record specimen was caught here. A fish weighing 47 kg and one and a half meters long came across a sports tackle.

Biological description of cod

A common member of the cod family. There are several subspecies. Fishery and economic importance in the Pacific and Atlantic species. In essence, morphological differences between them are not observed. The body length, taking into account the caudal fin, reaches 1.8 meters, but individuals less than a meter are more common. Commercial specimens are considered to be over 40 cm in age from 3 to 10 years, the preferred weight is up to 10 kg. Some specimens are larger and sometimes live up to 100 years.

Appearance

The color of the back varies from dark brown with small spots to light olive. The belly is white. The head is large with a large mouth. Feature - the presence of not one, but several soft dorsal fins. Members of this family have two anal fins. Attention is also drawn to the presence of a short fleshy barbel on the lower jaw.

habitats

Representative northern latitudes, in southern waters Don `t come in. Prefers moderately cold and cold seas of the northern hemisphere. A variety of species are found in the waters of the North Atlantic. The general range covers temperate zones Atlantic Ocean and forms areas where geographical subspecies are distinguished: White Sea, Arctic, Baltic and others. Distributed from the west from Cape Hatteras to Greenland, and in the east from the Bay of Biscay to the Barents Sea.

It occurs off the coast of Greenland and Svalbard, but does not like very low water temperatures. The optimal range for it is 2-10 degrees Celsius. In those areas where the temperature drops lower, it rises to warmer layers of the water column and stays there.

What does cod eat

The shape of the body makes it easy to move from the bottom layers to the water column, so it can be both benthic and pelagic species. But the adaptability to the habitat does not end there. Leading a flocking lifestyle and easily changing depths, it quickly switches from one type of food to another. The adult is an active omnivorous predator. With pleasure eats capelin, gerbil, haddock and squid. But at the first opportunity, it will swallow its own juveniles.

Spawning and development

This is a large fast growing predator. It belongs to the most prolific species on the planet. A young five-kilogram individual can lay 2.5 million viable eggs at a time, and an adult individual weighing more than 30 kilograms lays an average of 9 million eggs.

Grows throughout life. Spawns once a year. Perhaps, it is precisely such high fertility and vitality that explains the prosperity of the species directly in the habitats. Unlike other species, cod does not care about the fate of the offspring. Most of the eggs are eaten after spawning marine life, the remaining juveniles stay in flocks to increase the chances of survival and not be eaten own parents. The life of pelagic eggs and fry depends on the currents of the North Atlantic, it picks them up and carries them away from the spawning place for long distances (up to 200 km). These features allow the species to reach a high abundance and occupy a leading position in the ecosystem of the northern seas.

Differences between Pacific cod and Atlantic cod

Pacific somewhat smaller sizes. Her weight rarely reaches 18 kg. And unlike its relative, it has not floating pelagic, but adjacent bottom caviar. The Pacific species inhabits the territory of the Bering Strait, along the entire coast of Japan, California and Korea. It does not make long extended migrations. Its benthic eggs quickly switch to a benthic way of life, they are not carried by the current as in the Atlantic. Adult flocks of Pacific cod come to the shores of Kamchatka in summer time. Here they stay at shallow depths and, as the water temperature drops, they move farther and farther from the coast. Winters at depths from 150 to 300 m, in places where waters maintain positive temperatures. At the same time, spawning occurs near the Kamchatka coast in winter.

Commercial value of cod - useful and harmful properties

Sea fishing for cod

Fishing methods

Sport fishing is an exciting and rewarding activity. Cod is glimmered from a boat, from the shore, caught by trolling from boats, using especially heavy spinners and wobblers. Tackle should be as strong as possible.

They fish in the waters of the seas belonging to the basins of the Pacific and Arctic oceans. It does not exist in the East Siberian, Kara Seas, as well as in the Laptev Sea. Although this is a deep-sea species, they catch it from shallow depths of 20 to 50 m, but there are cases of bites from a depth of 100 meters or more. It should be noted that both large and small fish prefer to stay near the uneven bottom, they are attracted by shallows and underwater rocks. Experienced sea fishermen find flocks using these uncomplicated landmarks, while in other places only single individuals are found. Different types are found in coastal areas, the search is carried out by test throwing a hook with a bait or a heavy lure in promising places for fishing. When fishing from the shore, cod is caught along with other species in the catch.

Since this is a coastal predator, this fact makes it possible to catch it without risk in winter time because you don't have to go far out to sea. It is better to look for her at this time in places with sandbanks, where there are colonies of her favorite delicacy - sandworm. It is well caught at the very beginning of winter, and by February it begins to migrate to the Atlantic to spawn.

The best lures for fishing

The most commonly used nozzle is fish fillet, shellfish meat and peskozhil. Last the best way proved itself when fishing with a bottom rod from the shore. This is the most common prey for cod, so they grab it without hesitation or delay. Another great attachment is slicing eelpout meat. It is convenient because it sits tightly on the fishing hook, and therefore does not require constant replacement. Shellfish meat is much worse on the hook, so it is used for sheer fishing from a boat and sometimes when fishing from the shore.

Useful properties of cod meat

Nutritional value and calories

There is nothing better for diet food! Calorie content is only 82 kcal per 100 g. White meat contains up to 20% of complete proteins with amino acids necessary for the restoration of body cells. The properties of the product have been fully studied, and it has been established that regular consumption of food helps to eliminate excess weight, lowering cholesterol levels, which is very useful for people suffering from diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Photos of trophy fish in the hands of fishermen, taken on the high seas...

Videos cod fishing

Watch these videos about catching fish, including trophy fish in different seas. The first film shows how they fish in the Sea of Japan. The second video is about fishing in Northern Norway. Baltic and Baltic fish in the film from Russian fishermen. The final video was filmed about a good catch in Norway...

Cod fish is a welcome guest on any table. Cod is a valuable commercial fish, which includes a whole family various kinds. Also catching this fish is very popular among amateur anglers. All fish united by the cod family are similar in outward signs, but differ in size, weight, have their own behavior, nutrition and reproduction.

Class - Ray-finned fish;
Squad - Cod-like;
Family - Cod;
Genus - Cod.

cod varieties

As a rule, there are 4 types:

Pacific;
Greenlandic;
Atlantic;
Pollock.

Sometimes, when they talk about varieties of cod, they mean another one that looks very similar to other species, but genetically does not have a close common ancestor with it. This is a red cod. What kind of fish got this name and why? The fact is that her body begins to blush in the air. AT adulthood this fish has a body length of 1 meter and a small mass - 2.5-3 kilograms. The dorsal part of the body is painted in grey colour, and the abdominal - in pink. characteristic feature is the presence of a dark spot behind the head.

Important! Along with red cod, there is also pink cod. What kind of fish is this, Norwegian cuisine will help you find out. After all, it is there that they love and know how to cook dishes from pink cod, otherwise called Lofoten, which is a subspecies of the Atlantic.

The appearance of representatives of the cod family

The fish grows throughout its life and is considered mature by the age of 3. Sizes vary greatly depending on the habitat. The body is elongated, has the shape of a spindle. The head is large and powerful. There is asymmetry of the upper and lower jaws, the lower is noticeably larger than the upper.

All species have a fleshy antennae under the lower jaw, three dorsal fins and two in the anus. Individuals aged 5-10 years are considered the most valuable for fishing. By this time, the body length of the fish is 50-85 centimeters. For fish production, cod is harvested using fishing nets.

The fish has small toothed scales. The color of the back varies depending on the species: from yellowish with green tints and olive to brown with brown speckles. The sides, as a rule, are much lighter, and the abdominal part most often has a characteristic yellow tint or is completely white.

Habitat and distribution

The question of where cod lives does not have a definite answer. As is clear from the names of the species, it is found in the Atlantic, and in the Pacific, and even in the Arctic Ocean. Accordingly, depending on which sea this or that species lives in, geographical subspecies are distinguished, for example, the Baltic and White Sea, which are found in the seas of the same name.

As for the Atlantic cod, it lives in the temperate region of the Atlantic. In its western part, cod is found from Cape Hatteras to Greenland. In the Arctic Ocean, it is distributed in the eastern part of the Barents Sea and in the waters near Svalbard. Especially cold water The Arctic Ocean loves pollock. Pacific cod chooses its habitat mainly in the northern Pacific waters, meeting in the Japan, Bering and Okhotsk seas.

Many people ask a fair question about cod: is it a sea or river fish? For the most part, this fish prefers salt water seas of oceans, however, some subspecies, for example, burbots, which are also classified as cod, live in rivers. They mature faster than their marine counterparts and do not travel long distances to spawn.

Lifestyle, nutrition and reproduction of cod

The way of life of a fish is strongly influenced by its habitat. The Pacific species, as a rule, leads a sedentary lifestyle, commits seasonal migrations over short distances. In winter, the fish goes into the depths of the sea or ocean, dropping to 40-70 meters, and in summer it returns to coastal waters.

The life of the Atlantic species is closely connected with strong ocean currents, which cause seasonal migration over vast distances (up to 1500 km) to the place of food from the spawning place.

Cod spawns in coastal sea waters, where they spend a fair amount of their lives. This is typical for Pacific cod. The Atlantic, on the other hand, goes to spawn in another sea (also in coastal areas). Cod breeds in early spring, in March or April. For spawning, the fish descends to a depth of 100-120 meters.

Fertilized eggs are picked up by the current and carried away north of the spawning grounds. The surviving fry that emerged from the eggs, after being released from the yolk sac, begin to feed on plankton. By autumn, the young begin to lead a bottom lifestyle, eating small crustaceans. Upon reaching the age of three, cod becomes a true predator and eats fish of other species: smaller saury, herring and capelin. Cannibalism is also found among cod: they can eat fry, caviar, or smaller relatives.