Scientific name: Gadus morhua
Habitat: Benthopelagic Main role: Predator Trophic level: 4,4
IUCN Red List Assessment: Vulnerable
Diet: In general, the diet of cod varies depending on its life stage, habitat and the availability of prey. When cod are very young, they primarily feed on small zooplankton. As they grow older their diet includes a wider range of prey, including larger zooplankton, such as shrimp and krill, and small fish. Adult cod are opportunistic feeders, and their diet consists of a variety of fish species, as well as squid and crabs.
Threats: The stock of cod experiences worldwide collapses around the early 1990's and again in the early 2000's. These collapses have had profound ecological, economic and social impacts. The collapses of cod stock highlight the vulnerability of this species to overfishing and changes in environmental conditions.
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.
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".
The Baltic Sea is home to the Baltic Cod (Gadus morhua callarias), which is a subspecies of Common Cod, also referend to as the Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua). The Baltic Cod has adapted to the brackish and low-salinity waters of the Baltic Sea. They grow slower and smaller than the Atlantic Cod and have a unique genetic profile. The Baltic cod stocks are divided into the western and eastern stock, separated by the island of Bornholm.
The cod in the Baltic Sea preys on Sprat, Herring Baltic Proper and smaller Cod. When Cod is young, they feed mainly on Benthos mass, as they grow older, they become prey to seals. The cod are sensitive to Surface Disturbance, Bottom Disturbance and avoid Noise. In the Baltic Sea cod is caught using Pelagic catch fishing, Passive Demersal Catch and Active Demersal Catch.
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"
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.
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".
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).
Co-funded by the European Union.