The cod family. Large family of cod fish. Commercial fish of the cod family

Commodity characteristics of fish families

Cod family (cod, hake, saithe, saffron cod, pollock, haddock, blue whiting, etc.)

Cod fish have three dorsal fins and two anal fins.
The meat is white tasty, low-boned, bold.
Fat is concentrated in the liver (up to 65%).
Saithe has a distinctive flavor that is popular with fish connoisseurs all over the world.
Navaga meat is low-fat, has a pleasant taste, canned food and culinary products are produced from it, blanched whole or in pieces, fillets are grilled, salted and dried

Haddock is suitable for preparing a wide range of dishes, its mild taste goes well with spicy sauces, spices and various vegetables.
White gourmet haddock meat has properties that are excellent for preparing dishes such as dumplings, fish cakes, pies, mousses and soufflés.
Haddock can also be smoked or salted for a distinct, strong flavor.

Salmon family (trout, salmon, chum salmon, pink salmon, chinook salmon, sockeye salmon, coho salmon, omul, whitefish)

In fish of the salmon family, the body is oblong, thick, covered with small, tightly fitting scales, except for the head.
There are two fins on the back, one of which is fatty.
The meat is tender, fatty, has almost no intermuscular bones, suitable for all types of cooking.
It comes in fresh, fresh-frozen, smoked, salted form, as well as in the form of semi-finished products.

Salmon is ideal for cooking a variety of dishes: they can be fried, boiled, poached in wine sauce and grilled.

Trout is a freshwater fish of the salmon family. It lives in streams, rivers and lakes with clean and cool water.
Known trout: brook (dwells mainly in mountain rivers and streams) iridescent (object of breeding in ponds) and Sevan, living in Lake Sevan and acclimatized in Lake Issyk-Kul

Greenling family

Fish of the greenling family have a long dorsal fin and one anal fin.
The pectoral fin is wide.
The body is covered with small scales.
On the sides are black transverse stripes.
In terms of taste and fat content in meat, greenling is a high-quality raw material for the preparation of smoked meats and snack-type canned food.

mackerel family

Fish of the mackerel family have a spindle-shaped body, slightly compressed from the sides.
There are two dorsal fins, five to nine free fins are located behind the dorsal and anal fins. On the back there is a pattern in the form of black curved transverse stripes.

In spring, the fat content of mackerel is low (about 3%), while in autumn it reaches 30%, which means more omega-3 fatty acids.
Mackerel is rich in vitamins D and B12.
Mackerel comes in live, fresh-frozen, smoked, salted and canned form. Suitable for whole frying, grilling.
Well salted, marinated, smoked

Herring family (herring, sprat, anchovy, herring, sardine)

Fish of the herring family have an oblong, laterally compressed, covered with small scales, body without a lateral line, and a bare head.
One dorsal fin. The tail fin has a deep notch.
Fish are suitable for whole frying, grilling, well salted, marinated and smoked.
Herring are an excellent source of vitamins A, B12 and D

Sturgeon family (sturgeon, sterlet, stellate sturgeon, kaluga, beluga and thorn)

In fish of the sturgeon family, the body is elongated-fusiform, rows of scutes are located along the body.
Between the rows there are small bone grains and plates. The skeleton is cartilaginous.
The meat is white, fatty, tasty.
Most of the fat is between the muscles.
The color of caviar is from light to dark gray, almost black. Sturgeons are used to make soups, aspics and fried dishes.

Scorpion family (sea bass)

Fish of the scorpion family have a large head, large eyes, and the skin is painted bright red. There are spikes on the head and gill covers.
The two dorsal fins are fused.
fresh sea ​​bass it is recommended to fry or boil.
Sea fresh perch is sold in the form of fillet and salted - whole carcass or fillet

Flounder family (flounder and halibut)

Fish of the flounder family have a flat, asymmetrical body.
The top side is painted to match the color of the bottom, the bottom side is light.
The eyes are on the upper side of the head and may be placed asymmetrically.
They have tender meat.
Used for roasting, smoking, poaching, grilling

Halibut is a fish with a wonderful smell and taste. It can be baked whole. Perfectly smoked
catfish family

Fish of the catfish family have an elongated body, a round head. The dorsal and anal fins are long; there are no ventral fins. The skin is thick, covered with small scales. For enterprises Catering comes without skin and head, fresh, fresh-frozen or frozen. Very good source of vitamins A, B12 and D. Fat content varies

lamprey family

Fish of the lamprey family have an elongated serpentine body covered with mucus.
Cartilaginous skeleton.
There are no pectoral, anal or ventral fins; there are two dorsal fins.
The mouth is round.
The meat is fatty and rich in proteins. Used smoked and fried

Perch family (perch, perch, ruff, bersh, etc.)

Fish of the perch family have two dorsal fins: the first is prickly, the second is soft.
The body is covered with small, tight-fitting scales.
Lateral line is straight.
There are dark transverse stripes on the sides.
Used for cooking fish soup, jellied dishes and stuffing

catfish family

The fish of this family have an elongated naked body, a head slightly flattened from above, and antennae on the upper and lower jaws.
The dorsal fin is small, the anal fin is long.
The skin is rough.
Used for smoking, preparing canned food, chopped products

Carp family (carp, carp, bream, vobla, ide, asp, silver carp, etc.)

Fish of the carp family have a high body, a thickened back and somewhat squeezed sides. Dorsal fin one.
Scales close to the body

scad family

Fish of the scad family have two dorsal fins: the first is spiny, the second is soft.
The head and body are covered with small scales.
Lateral line behind pectoral fin sharply curved downwards, covered with bony scutes

pike family

Pike fish have an elongated body, a large head with an elongated flattened snout. The dorsal and anal fins are located at the end of the body.
The scales are small.
Used for stuffing

tuna family

Fish of the tuna family are large marine fish up to 3 m long.
On the back they have two fins, behind them - from 7 to 9 small fins.
Lateral muscles are dark, internal ones are light

anglerfish family

A characteristic feature of the monkfish is a huge head, which is half the length of the entire fish. Angler comes without skin and head, as well as in the form of fillets.
It has white, elastic and very tasty meat. Monkfish is an excellent source of vitamin A, proteins, selenium, zinc and calcium

Acne family

Fish of the eel family have a serpentine body shape, slightly flattened at the head and tail, and small scales.
The dorsal and anal fins are long and join at the tail; no pelvic fins. Used fresh or smoked and considered a great delicacy.
Rich in omega-3 fatty acids (more than 5 g per 100 g of fish).
They are excellent sources of vitamin A

The cod fish family consists of almost 100 species that live mainly in the waters of the Northern Hemisphere. All of them, with the exception of burbot, are representatives of the marine ichthyofauna. In addition to the usual cod, saffron cod, haddock and pollock, the cod-like order includes such exotic fish for the Russian consumer as menek, gadikul, molva.

Some species - object commercial production, others are of interest only to amateur anglers.

General features and distinctive features

The main signs of belonging to the cod family - a fleshy mustache on the lower jaw and spots of various sizes and shapes scattered over the body - not all representatives of the order have. In some fish, the scales are silvery, and the antennae are absent or poorly developed.

But other "family traits" (pictured) are in almost all fish of the family.

A sign of the cod order is large eyes on a disproportionately large head and a light longitudinal stripe along the body

The characteristic features of the family include the absence of spiny rays in the fins and large gill openings. The body of cod is covered with small cycloid scales.

The table lists and a brief description of commercial and most valuable in nutritionally cod fish.

In addition to commercial species, the list of fish of the cod family includes popular recreational fishing objects:

• polar cod or polar cod, a small fish (average length 25 cm) that lives in the Arctic Ocean. They catch it in the White, Barents Seas;
• gadikul (another name is the big-eyed cod), the smallest representative of the cod reaches a length of 12 cm. A distinctive feature is the huge eyes that occupy a third of the head. The mustache is missing. The sides are silvery with dark small spots. Quite often, the gadikul is used as bait for catching other cod fish;
• tomcode ; the genus includes 2 species, differing in size and habitat: Atlantic tomcod (average length 35 cm) and Pacific tomcod or American cod (length 30 cm). In Russia, they are caught in the Barents Sea, off the coast of Murmansk. In the US and Canada, it is a sport fishing target;
• lusk (chaplain, French cod), a beautiful copper-brown fish with yellowish sides, decorated with 4–5 transverse dark stripes. The average length is 30 cm. They are caught with a bait in the Mediterranean, White, Barents, Kara, Chukchi seas.

The usually gray, dull coloration of the back of the hadicule may vary depending on the habitat.

Common burbot

In a separate row, burbot (the outdated name is men) is not accidental. This is the only representative of cod species living in fresh water.

Fish feel comfortable in cold rivers and lakes. The largest population is distributed in the northern water bodies of Russia. In a smaller number, a freshwater predator can be found in the rivers flowing into the Black and Caspian Sea. The northern burbot is larger than the southern counterpart. His average weight ranges from 3–6 kg with a length of up to 80 cm (in warm waters it rarely exceeds 600 g).

Note! Burbot is always looking for the coolest place in the river, he often settles in the area of ​​springs. In the absence of underwater springs, the fish chooses snags, deep pits or large stony placers as a habitat.

The color of the fish largely depends on the type of bottom (pebbles, sand, clay) and the degree of transparency of the water. A brownish or dark brown color is considered traditional, which becomes lighter as the fish grows and ages. The belly of the burbot is olive, the fins are dark gray, almost black. Like most cod fish, burbot is decorated with dark, randomly scattered spots.

While in ambush, burbot puts forward a moving mustache that attracts small fish.

A flat head with small eyes, three whiskers (on the chin and along the edges of the upper jaw), and mucus covering the body make the burbot look like a catfish. It's easy to spot the fish. In burbot, the body is covered with cycloid scales (the catfish does not have scales). Burbot is a nocturnal predator. The structure of his sense organs is designed for hunting in total darkness.

Note! The fish has exceptional hearing and is very curious. Having caught an unusual sound, burbot rushes to the source of noise, sometimes overcoming a considerable distance. This feature of behavior is often used by fishermen.

diet

Fish belonging to the cod-like order, with a few exceptions, are predators.

AT young age they feed on benthic invertebrates: crustaceans, shrimps, worms. As you get older, your diet changes. Now it is based on small fish, including representatives of their own family. For example, cod actively eat young pollock. Blue whiting often becomes prey for haddock.

Small representatives of the order (gadikul, polar cod) feed on plankton and benthonic crustaceans, but sometimes they diversify the menu with fry or caviar of their fellows.

Strong fast pollock hunts in packs. The noise made by the school is sometimes heard on the surface of the reservoir

Cannibalism is very common among cod fish: their own juveniles often become their prey.

Interesting fact! Accumulated fat is deposited in cod fish in the liver, which, due to this, acquires a lot of useful properties. Saturated with vitamins, macro- and microelements, essential amino acids, the liver is useful in the prevention and treatment of a wide range of diseases.

reproduction

Sexual maturity in the vast majority of the family occurs after 3 years of life. Large individuals (cod, molva) begin to spawn upon reaching 6–8 years. Spawning takes place at the end of winter or in early spring. Cod are very prolific. Large individuals can lay up to 9 million eggs. Navaga spawns up to 90 thousand eggs, small representatives of the family - no more than 6 thousand. Eggs and emerging larvae lead a predominantly pelagic way of life. The current from the spawning place carries them over considerable distances.

The fry spend their first year of life in shallow water near the shore. Often they hide under the jellyfish bell. As they grow older, the juveniles move to the depths and begin to make seasonal migrations.

Cod and haddock fry use the jellyfish Cyanea as cover

Interesting fact! From the eggs laid by blue whiting, only males are born. As they mature, some fry show signs of females. By sexually mature age, the ratio of males and females of blue whiting becomes equal. By the end of life (fish live on average 20 years), all individuals gradually turn into females.

Cod fish are a priority object of domestic and world fisheries. They are valued for their tasty, low-calorie meat and few bones. Last but not least is the affordable price.

Cod fish are a coveted trophy for sea fishing fans. Trolling, plumb fishing are the most popular methods. Representatives of the family are successfully caught from the shore on spinning or bottom gear. In any case, cod fishing will be a lot of fun.

(lat. Gadidae) - a family of the cod-like order, living in fresh and salt water bodies of the northern hemisphere. Includes about 100 species. With the exception of burbot, all species are marine.
The body of fish cod family more or less elongated, covered with small cycloid scales. All fins are spineless. There are three, two or one elongated dorsal. Anal two or one. The tail is completely symmetrical, its base is lanceolate. The abdominals are located under the pectorals or in front of them. There is usually a mustache on the chin.

There are two distinct groups of cod:

1. burbot-like - with one long anal and one or two dorsal fins and
2. cod-like - with two anal and three dorsal fins.

In burbot-like eggs contain a fat drop, and the larvae have (almost all) elongated ventral fins; in cod-like eggs, they lack a fat drop, and the larvae have normal pelvic fins. Almost all cod fish are marine fish, only burbot is a permanent inhabitant of fresh waters.

Cod family common in northern seas, temperate seas of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and the Mediterranean. In Russia, cod live in all open seas: Black, Baltic, Barents, White, Kara, Laptev, East Siberian, Chukchi, Bering, Okhotsk and Japanese, and in the fresh waters of the entire Union, except for the Crimea, the Caucasus, the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea, the Aral basin, Balkhash, Primorye and Kamchatka .

Baltic cod - (lat. Gadus morhua callarias (Linne)), Cod; tursk (Est.); menca (Latvian); Dorseh (German); watlusz (Polish); turska (fin.); torsk (Swedish, Danish).
Signs. The Baltic cod is similar to the Atlantic cod, but its color is brighter, the swim bladder is usually somewhat larger and the horn-shaped outgrowths at its front edge in adults are very long and rolled into a ball. Body color olive or green-gray with frequent spots ...

Cod - (lat. Gadus morhua morhua Linne), Pertui (young, also adult in the White Sea); code (English); torskur (Isl.); Kabeljau, Dorsch - juveniles and Baltic cod (German); torsk, skrei - spawning; loddetorsk - washing - Finmark; taretorsk - fiord (Norwegian); raorue (fr.).
Signs. Three dorsal fins, two anal. The upper jaw is longer than the lower. The barbel on the chin is well developed. The lateral line is light, forming an arc above the pectoral fins. Tail fin without notch...

The cod family includes more than a hundred species of fish, which are distributed mostly in the northern hemisphere. All of them are marine life,the exception is only one representative of the family - burbot, which is found and lives in fresh waters.

Classification

Scientific classification implies the division of the rocks included in the cod family into two subfamilies:

1. The cod-like subfamily has 5 fins: 3 on the back and 2 more in the anal area.
2. The subfamily of burbot-like is distinguished by the presence of 3 fins, 2 of which are located on the back.

Description of cod

Despite the variety of breeds included in the cod family, most representatives have a similar anatomical structure and behavior, all of these features are discussed in the list below.

Appearance

Most representatives of the cod family have similar outward signs consisting of the following:

1. There are 2-3 fins in the back area, as well as 1-2 more fins in the anal part.
2. Has a well developed tail fin; in various breeds, it can merge into a single whole with the anal and dorsal fins or be clearly separated from them.
3. Spiny rays are absent in all fins, regardless of location, this anatomical feature characteristic of each member of the family.
4. In the chin area there is a single tendril.
5. Gill openings are large in size.
6. The body is covered with small, but well-adjacent scales..

Dimensions

How to catch more fish?

It attracts fish in cold and warm water with the help of pheromones included in the composition and stimulates her appetite. Suitable for both summer and winter fishing.

Representatives of the cod family can have different dimensions and weights depending on the specific breed.

Usually these parameters depend on the diet of a particular species:

1. Herbivores or plankton eaters are smaller. The smallest representative of the family is considered to be a deep-sea gadikul living in the northern part of the Atlantic: rare specimens have a body length of 15 cm, usually it does not exceed 10-12 cm.
2. Sizes of predatory representatives cod families can be different, but they are usually larger than herbivorous fish. Molva and Atlantic cod are considered the largest breeds, the body length of individual individuals can reach 2 meters.

Habitat

The habitat of representatives of the cod family is vast, they can be found in the following places:

1. All seas, located in the northern hemisphere, are the habitat of most species.
2. Five varieties can be found in the seas of the southern hemisphere.
3. Burbot is the only breed that is found in fresh water reservoirs. located in North and South America, northern Europe and Asia.
4. East Atlantic is the place where he lives a large number of breeds in the family.
5. In the Baltic Sea there is a large number of cod, but it is the only representative of the family here.
6. Coasts of South America, New Zealand and South Africa are places where you can find 3 breeds related to cod.

Equatorial waters are the only place where there are no fish belonging to the cod family.

Diet

The diet is individual for each individual breed. Among cod there are predators and exclusively herbivorous fish. They differ in size and weight. In some species, the basis of the diet is zooplankton, such as blue whiting or Arctic cod.

Spawning

Spawning in most cod takes place in salt water, although some species temporarily move to desalinated water bodies and only a small part migrates to rivers for this.

The main features of this process are discussed below:

1. Most species reach sexual maturity at 3-5 years of age., but cod and some other breeds go for the first spawning at 8-10 years old.
2. Spawning lasts for several days.
3. Cod and molva are characterized by increased fertility, at one time they are able to lay more than a million eggs. Navaga breeds differently: during spawning, it lays only a few thousand eggs.
4. All codfish prefer cool water, therefore, spawning takes place in winter or early March, when the temperature does not exceed 0°C.

The spread of fish occurs from the first days of their life, since not all fry remain in the water column: many are carried away to other places by swift currents. Haddock fry prefer to hide behind jellyfish, which is their reliable defense against most natural enemies.

Representatives of the cod family during their life can make several long migrations, moving over long distances. This is usually associated with a decrease in the food supply in inhabited areas, a change in the direction of currents or temperature conditions.

fishing

Many cod have nutritional value, so they are bred on an industrial scale. Most of the fish are caught in the Atlantic, annual volumes reach 6-10 million tons. Among the significant breeds, one can single out haddock, Atlantic cod, pollock and pollock: their fillet and liver are valued, containing a large amount of vitamins and minerals. useful substances. Given the specifics of the habitat of these species, bottom trawls are used for fishing.

Cod species

The cod family includes a large number of fish, common and well-known breeds will be discussed in detail below.

Gadikul is known for being one of the smallest representatives of cod, breed features are discussed below:

1. Gadikul is a deep sea fish, which tries to stick to the bottom surface.
2. Basic hallmark are big eyes dealing with a third of the head.
3. The average body size is from 9 to 12 cm, rare specimens reach a length of 15 cm.
4. Main habitat- The Mediterranean and the seas located near the northern part of Norway.
5. The breed is also found in ocean waters., it can live at a depth of 200 to 1300 meters.
6. Specialists distinguish between southern and northern gadikul, the only differences are anatomical structure, determined by the number of vertebrae and fin rays, as well as in the habitat.

Whiting

Most of the representatives of this breed of cod live in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean and try to stay close to European shores. Sometimes whiting is also found near the Crimean coasts, where it gets there randomly after strong storms.

Other features of this fish are discussed below:

1. The average body length varies from 30 to 50 cm, some large specimens grow up to 60-65 cm.
2. Merlang is a predatory breed, the basis of its diet is crustaceans, fry and small adult fish.
3. Commercial fishing whiting established in most northern seas.
4. Whiting has a large number of natural enemies: it is included in the diet large predators and dolphins.
5. Whiting falls to depth extremely rarely, he prefers to stay in the water column closer to the surface.
6. Whiting goes to the first spawning at the age of 2 years, during this process it descends to a depth of one meter. Reproduction begins if the water temperature does not fall below -5°

Pollock

Pollock is one of the most valuable and well-known representatives of cod, Below are the features of this type:

Molva represents predatory fish, one of the largest representatives of cod.

Its main features are as follows:

1. Molva tries to stay close to the bottom surface, it rarely rises above a depth of 500 meters.
2. The body length of most individuals is 1 meter, although the largest specimens reach almost 2 meters.
3. The basis of the diet is fish inferior to molva in size.
4. Molva becomes sexually mature very late, she goes to her first spawning only at the age of 8-10 years.

Navaga Far Eastern

Far Eastern navaga is the name of another commercial cod breed; the main habitat is the northern territories of the Pacific Ocean, although it can also be found in many northern and Far Eastern seas.

Other features of the fish are listed below:

1. A related breed is the White Sea saffron cod, but it is significantly inferior in size to its Far Eastern relative.
2. , but some trophy specimens grow up to 50-60cm.
3. For most of the year Far Eastern saffron cod tries to stay close to the coast, but during the summer season it swims far out to sea in search of food.
4. Puberty occurs at the age of 2-3 years, spawning falls on winter period when the water temperature drops to its lowest point.
5. Far Eastern saffron cod is a very common cod breed, thanks to this, its commercial fishing is well established, which is 10 times larger than the catch of the White Sea variety.

Navaga northern

Navaga northern is a marine cod fish, it can be found in the Kara, White or Pechora Seas.

Features of this breed are as follows:

1. Meet the northern navaga it is possible in shallow areas near the coastline, and before spawning, it leaves for the nearest rivers. Despite this, reproduction is carried out only in salty sea ​​water, this process takes place in winter season. To lay eggs, the female descends to a depth of 10 meters, the eggs stick to the bottom surface and pass there. further development over the next 4 months.
2. Body length averages 20-35 cm, but the largest individuals live in the Kara Sea, often growing up to 45 cm.
3. Navaga northern is a predator, its diet includes crustaceans, fry of other fish and worms.
4. The meat of this fish is valued for its excellent taste. commercial fishing is carried out in autumn and winter.

Burbot

Burbot is a unique representative of the cod species, as it is the only freshwater cod species found in the rivers and lakes of Europe, America and Asia.

The main features are discussed below:

1. The largest population lives in Siberian rivers, where both the commercial catch of burbot and amateur fishing are established.
2. Burbot is found only in cool and clean rivers., important condition is a rocky bottom structure.
3. Spawning occurs in winter, with spring and summer warming, burbot begins to hibernate and seeks shelter near underwater snags or in burrows at the bottom. Activity returns only by autumn, and burbot begins to actively feed, gaining weight before the upcoming spawning.
4. Burbot is an exclusively nocturnal breed, intolerant sunlight. However, in the dark season, his attention can be attracted by lighting a fire on the shore.
5. Average body length is 40 to 60 cm, and the weight is 1-1.5 kg. Individual individuals grow very large, they can reach a length of up to 12 meters and weigh 20 kg.
6. The basis of the diet is food of animal origin: crustaceans, various larvae and small fish.

Haddock

Haddock is found mainly in the northern part of the Atlantic, it tries to stay close to the American and European coasts.

Below are the main features of this breed:

1. It is easy to recognize haddock by its appearance: laterally flattened body has a characteristic silver color, a thin black line runs through the sides, and a noticeable spot is located above the pectoral fin.
2. , sometimes there are trophy specimens growing up to 100 cm.
3. The diet includes food of animal origin: crustaceans, molluscs, herring caviar, fry and worms.
4. Commercial fishing is well developed in the Barents and North Seas, haddock is one of the most valuable representatives cod family.

blue whiting

Blue whiting is found on northeast section Atlantic, this cod has the following features:

1. Body length is about 30cm, rare individuals grow up to 40-50 cm.
2. Find this fish possible at a depth of 30-800 meters.
3. The breed is characterized by very slow growth.
4. The basis of the diet is various crustaceans, fry of other fish and plankton.

Blue whiting

The main distinguishing feature of the southern variety is the larger size: most individuals grow up to 50 cm in length. Individuals living in the Atlantic Ocean usually stay near the surface of the water, but their relatives from the northern territories rarely rise above a depth of 100-300 meters. Today, commercial fishing for blue whiting is well developed; this cod fish is mainly used for the manufacture of canned food.

saithe

Saithe is a schooling cod breed that can be found both near the surface of the water and at considerable depths.

The features of this fish are as follows:

1. Body length is 50-70cm, the largest individuals grow up to 90-100 cm.
2. Saithe lives in the North Atlantic, but this breed is characterized by migration over very long distances.
3. Commercial fishing for saithe is very well developed., most of the fish goes into canning. Its popularity is due to the taste of meat, which is very similar to salmon, but it is much cheaper.

Atlantic cod

Atlantic cod is one of the rarest representatives of the cod family, so this breed was listed in the Red Book.

The features of these fish are discussed below:

1. The body length of most individuals reaches 40-70 cm, but some fish grow up to almost 2 meters.
2. Atlantic cod feed on marine crustaceans, shellfish and herring.
3. Puberty comes late, most representatives of this breed go to spawn at the age of 8-10 years, when their weight reaches at least 3-4 kg.
4. The breed is highly valued for its liver. rich in fats; canned fish is also made from it. Populations in recent times are declining significantly, so in many places the catch of Atlantic cod is prohibited.

Pacific cod

Pacific cod has a number fundamental differences from the Atlantic variety, The features of the breed are given below:

1. Body size smaller than Atlantic cod but the head is much larger. The maximum length is 120cm.
2. You can meet Pacific cod in the northern territories of the Pacific Ocean, as well as in the waters of the Barents, the Sea of ​​Japan or the Sea of ​​Okhotsk.
3. This breed goes to spawn at the age of 5-6 years., the average life expectancy is no more than 10-12 years. Females are highly prolific and lay millions of eggs.
4. The basis of the diet is invertebrate marine life., as well as other representatives of the cod family, mainly navaga and pollock.
5. Pacific cod is a commercial fish, which is valued for its meat.

Cod is the largest family, common in the waters of the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic. They are targeted for their dietary low-fat meat. Valued not only taste qualities, but also beneficial features because it contains a large amount of vitamins and minerals chemical elements, including phosphorus, calcium, iodine, iron and manganese.

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Large and medium-sized cod fish are included in the assortment of each fish department of supermarkets. These are not too expensive, but tasty and healthy varieties recommended for children and diet food. Their meat has a reduced fat content, it is white in color and has a good taste.

Judge about appearance of all cod fish can be on the carcasses of pollock or navaga with a head. The family is characterized by the presence of 2-3 dorsal fins and 1-2 anal fins. The fins are soft, do not have spikes and are not distinguished by large sizes.

Cod and its related species are commercial fish. Even small representatives (cod, blue whiting, etc.) are caught in large quantities for the production of fishmeal and fish oil. Large breeds with developed muscle tissue are considered the main commercial species in many coastal countries in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as well as in the Arctic seas. A number of species are not caught on purpose, but come across as by-catch to the main fishery of Atlantic cod, walleye pollock or other species.

Appearance

The body length of commercial specimens ranges from 20–80 cm, although the size of an adult Atlantic cod can reach 1.8 m. Large varieties families most often serve as objects of sport fishing, and industrial production is limited to the catch of medium-sized fish.

The body structure is characteristic of all pelagic species. The head relative to the body has no big sizes, the body is elongated, spindle-shaped, the muscles are well developed. Cod-like fish may be of another type, so it is better to know the main varieties of this family.

Cod and its related species have patronizing coloration. A dark, most often gray-olive or greenish back and a white, silvery belly make the fish inconspicuous for predators both from above and from below. The scales are small.

Most species have a tactile barbel on their chin. This adaptation serves as a cod to detect prey in the benthic layer where they feed on marine invertebrates.

Varieties

The family of cod fish includes a large number of species, but only a few species of them are industrially mined in Russia, including:

• Far East pollock;
• saithe;
• cod (Pacific and Atlantic);
• haddock;
• navaga (Far Eastern and northern);
• polar cod (polar cod);
• northern blue whiting (catching southern Russian companies currently not in progress).

All these species are marine, small rocks can sometimes enter estuaries. big rivers where salinity is greatly reduced. But they are never found in freshwater bodies of water.

The size

Cod rocks vary greatly in size. Among the smallest representatives are lyuskas, chaplains, cods. Their length rarely exceeds 20 cm.

More major representatives often end up on the shelves of fish markets and shops. Among them are a number of species typical for the Russian fishing industry (saffron cod, polar cod, blue whiting). They even in adulthood do not grow more than 40-50 cm.

The largest commercial fish of the cod family - Atlantic cod - grows up to 1.8 m. Other species - Pacific cod, haddock, whiting, etc. - rarely exceed 1.2-1.5 m.

Habitat

Basically, cod inhabit the waters of the seas of the northern hemisphere. But blue whiting lives in the Antarctic regions, where its catch is important part fisheries in the countries of the region.

Some of the northern species (haddock, cod, pollock) live exclusively in cold subarctic waters and rarely descend even to European shores. But the sea pike, whiting, silver saithe and others are also found in the Mediterranean Sea and off the coast of Morocco.

Diet

In pelagic-bottom species, the basis of the diet is made up of organisms inhabiting the benthos: worms, mollusks, and crustaceans. Large pelagic species (hdock, cod) also hunt smaller fish species and eat their own young. Fish do not feed on plant foods, they lead a predominantly predatory lifestyle. Freshwater burbot collects bottom dwellers, small crustaceans and larvae, and also hunts small fish.

Spawning Features

Almost all representatives, except for Mediterranean species, are cold-water. They are able to spawn at a water temperature of about 0 ° C, and sometimes even lower (up to -1.8 ° C). There are specimens (for example, saffron cod) that prefer to spawn in less salty water at the confluence of large rivers into the ocean. But in fresh water and in the waters of rivers, they do not spawn, with the exception of burbot, which never leaves fresh water.

In most species, the eggs fall to the ground or stick to plants. Pollock, saithe, haddock and other pelagic-bottom species prefer to spawn in the shallows, where the depth does not exceed 50 m. The young growth stays near the coast for the first year, then moves to deep water areas. Spawning occurs mainly in the winter-spring period. Pollock populations spawn at different times, depending on their habitat.

Atlantic cod spawn in March-April in deep (up to 100 m) waters off the coast of Scandinavia. Caviar is pelagic, does not sink to the bottom, but is carried by the current to northern regions(Bear Island, Barents Sea). Young animals lead a predominantly bottom lifestyle, and from the age of 3 they begin to hunt and make feeding migrations. Sexual maturity is reached at 7–9 years of age and at this age they make the first spawning migration.

Culinary characteristics of codfish

The meat of all breeds similar to cod contains no more than 3-4% fat. The subcutaneous tissue is underdeveloped. Fat reserves accumulate in the liver (up to 74% fat), which is large in cod. This internal organ in large breeds, they are extracted and processed. canned liver cod and blue whiting is considered a delicacy.

The meat of all codfish is not only tasty, but also healthy. In addition to dietary value, fish has a high protein content (BJU - 93/8/0%). The energy value 100 g is only 69-70 kcal.

The tender fillet cooks quickly and lends itself to a variety of cooking methods. Cod fish meat can be fried, baked, boiled in water and steamed. They make good stuffing out of it. Fish can be harvested for the future: salt, smoke and dry.

Sliced ​​dried or smoked blue whiting, cod or pollock is considered a delicacy snack for beer (“amber fish”, etc.). A lot of surimi is prepared from pollock fillet, on the basis of which imitation crab meat is made and crab sticks. Pollock caviar is sold as an inexpensive delicacy in finished form.

Vitamins and trace elements

The composition of cod meat includes vitamins of group B, as well as A, D, E, K and PP. The nutritional value is also determined by the content of numerous trace elements:

• iodine;
• fluorine;
• copper;
• gland;
• manganese, etc.

The composition of the muscle tissue of fish in a balanced amount also contains such important substances for the human body as phosphorus and calcium, potassium and magnesium.

Commercial value

The leading role is taken by pollock fishing (up to 43% of the total fish catch). Now the domestic annual catch is about 1.6 million tons. Fish in the form of fillets are exported to South Korea, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands.

Domestic catches of blue whiting are about 1 million tons per year. The fish is sold whole or as a fillet. The taste of the fish is pleasant, reminiscent of hake, the texture of the meat is more tender than that of pollock.

Other breeds are caught in smaller quantities, but they are no less tasty and in demand among buyers. Due to population fluctuations, cod may occasionally be sold in smaller quantities.