Like its Atlantic cousin, Pacific cod is a mild and versatile fish. But, the Pacific species is also an ocean-friendly seafood choice.

Pacific cod tastes almost identical to Atlantic cod, but with a softer and more delicate texture. Try Pacific cod poached in hard cider, or sautéed with lemon caper white wine sauce.

Also known as:

 Pacific cod, Alaska cod, grey cod, P-cod, true cod

Availability:

 Year-round

Product forms:

 Fresh and frozen, fillets, steaks, whole fish and headed and gutted

Shopping tips:

 Look for whiter fillets, which will be fresher than greyer fillets.

Substitutions:

 Use Pacific cod in any recipe that calls for Atlantic cod, or other types of whitefish.

Recipes:

Wild-caught Pacific cod with lemon caper white wine sauce

Hard cider-poached wild-caught Pacific cod
Pacific cod fishery: Pacific cod are mostly fished with bottom longlines or trawl nets, but some are harvested with fish pots or jig gear. More.

Conservation notes:

 Pacific cod is considered a ocean-friendly seafood choice because the populations are well-managed and some of the fishing gear used is environmentally friendly. More.
Last updated: April 2008

 

Pacific Cod Fishery

Bottom longlines consist of a long central line that has smaller fishing lines with baited hooks spaced along its length. The lines are fished on or near the ocean floor and left in the water for several hours before the fishes are harvested. Accidental capture and injury of unwanted species can be a problem.

Trawl nets are pulled through the water by fishing boats. Bottom trawl nets, such as those used to capture Pacific cod, are pulled along the seafloor where they may cause significant habitat destruction.

Fish pots and traps are designed to capture a specific species and size of seafood. Because these traps are designed to be very selective, bycatch is generally very low with this method of fishing. Since these traps are stationary, they do not cause significant habitat destruction.

Jig gear is essentially hook-and-line gear that is jigged, or bounced, along the seafloor. Fishermen reel in their line each time the catch a fish. This type of fishing gear does not cause habitat destruction.

Most Pacific cod is harvested from Alaska waters, in addition to smaller amounts from Canada, Russia and Japan.

Conservation Notes

In the United States, Pacific cod is managed by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under the Fishery Management Plan for the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands Groundfish, and the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska. Pacific cod management relies on limited entry, quotas, seasonal and area closures, mandatory observers, reporting requirements and gear restrictions.

Many types of commercial fishing gear can cause significant habitat destruction, or may catch large numbers of unwanted fishes and other animals. The bottom longline and trawl gear used to capture some Pacific cod are both associated with bycatch of unwanted species, and trawls are known to cause habitat destruction.

Pacific cod caught with fish pots and jig gear are a better choice because these fishing gear do not cause habitat destruction, and are not associated with significant amounts of bycatch.