Cod

General Information

North Sea

Baltic Sea

Clyde Marine Region

Adriatic Sea

Eastern Mediterranean Sea

Cod

Layer Info
Category	Ecology
Sub-category	Fish

Description

Habitat: Benthopelagic
Main role: Predator
Trophic level: 4,4

Diet: Juvenile cod are pelagic and feed mainly on copepods. At a size of approximately 7 cm they adopt a demersal way of life with a diet that initially comprised of crustaceans. As they grow, bigger fish become increasingly important as prey.

Threats: Highly commercial and vulnerable (IUCN red list). Cod is a highly fished top predator, which has seen several stock collapses in the 1990s around the world due to overfishing. In the North Sea cod stocks seem to be slowly recovering. Cod are also very sensitive to fluctuations in temperature.

MSP Challenge

Different pressures generate by human activities (noise, bottom disturbance, surface disturbance, artificial substrate) have different, complex effects on marine species in terms of movement, survival and procreation.

Cod are caught by all fishing fleets, but mostly by bottom trawl.

Information

In the North Sea, several species of cod can be found. The most common and important cod species in the North Sea is the Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua). This cod species is the most studied and commercially significant cod species in the North Sea, and it plays a crucial role in the region's fisheries.

The Cod in the North Sea preys on mainly flatfish, but also Mackerel, Demersal Fish, Herring, Mackerel and Sandeel. When Cod is young, they feed mainly on Benthic Invertebrates, as they grow older, they become prey to Seals. The cod in the North Sea edition are sensitive to Noise pollution and Bottom disturbance. Cod is often caught using Bottom Trawl fishing and Drifting & Fixed Nets.

Types

• Very Low Density
• Low Density
• Medium Density
• High Density
• Very High Density

Metadata

Data Source

Cod is a month-by-month, computer generated data layer following calculations made by the ecosystem simulation (EwE).

For more information on how Ecopath-with-Ecosim (EwE) works, please visit our Wiki page or visit the official EwE website at https://ecopath.org. For detailed information on how the simulation works for the North Sea Edition, we recommend further exploring our research publication called "Combining ecosystem modeling with serious gaming in support of transboundary maritime spatial planning".

Information

The Baltic Sea is home to the

Types

• Very Low Density
• Low Density
• Medium Density
• High Density
• Very High Density

Metadata

Data Source

Cod is a month-by-month, computer generated data layer following calculations made by the ecosystem simulation (EwE).

For more information on how Ecopath-with-Ecosim (EwE) works, please visit our Wiki page or visit the official EwE website at https://ecopath.org. For detailed information on how the simulation works for the Baltic Sea Edition, we recommend further exploring our research publication called "Foodweb modeling in the Maritime Spatial Planning Challenge Simulation Platform: Results from the Baltic Sea Region"

Information

In the Clyde Marine Region, the primary species of cod that can be found is the Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua). The Clyde Marine Region, in particular the Clyde estuary, was known for having lots of cod as it provided a favorable environment with its mix of rocky and sandy areas. Historically cod has played an important role for the local fisheries, and the region was known for supporting important cod populations.

Cod in the Clyde Marine Region prey on smaller Cod, Whiting, Flatfish, Herring and Sandeel. When cod is young the mainly feed on Benthicm mass, as they grow older, they become prey to Sharks, Birds and Seals. Cod avoid noisy areas and are mainly caught with Demersal Trawl Catch fishing, as well as Seine Catch and Nephrops Catch.

Types

• Extremely Low
• Low
• Medium
• High
• Extra High

Metadata

Data Source

Cod is a month-by-month, computer generated data layer following calculations made by the ecosystem simulation (EwE).

For more information on how Ecopath-with-Ecosim (EwE) works, please visit our Wiki page or visit the official EwE website at https://ecopath.org. For detailed information on how the simulation works for the Clyde Marine Region Edition, we recommend further exploring our research publication called "Combining ecosystem modeling with serious gaming in support of transboundary maritime spatial planning".

Information

Not applicable. This layer is not available in the MSP Challenge Adriatic Sea Edition.

Cod can be found in the Adriatic Sea. However, it is important to note that this region is on the southern edge of their natural range. The cod is not as abundant in the Adriatic Sea as they are in their primal habitat in colder northern waters (WoRMS Editorial Board, 2023).

World Register of Marine Species. Available from https://www.marinespecies.org at VLIZ. Accessed 2023-10-02.

Not applicable. This layer is not available in the MSP Challenge Eastern Mediterranean Sea Edition.

Cod is not typically found in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Cod is a cold-water species that is more commonly found in more northern waters, where the water temperature is cooler (WoRMS Editorial Board, 2023).

World Register of Marine Species. Available from https://www.marinespecies.org at VLIZ. Accessed 2023-10-02.