sign in sign up
<<
Home , Gadidae, Pacific cod, Rock cod

Government Gouvernement I+ of Canada du Canada Rsheries fleches and Oceans et Oceans Fact Sheet Pacific(Grey)

THE PACIFIC (GREY) COD are Hecate Strait ( 1,814-9 ,072 t/yr) (Merluccius productus), walleye ( macro- and the west coast of Vancouver pollack (Theragra chalcogramma) cephalus) is the only large-sized cod Island (907-5,443 t/yr). Secondary and Pacific tomcod ( species in the north Pacific Ocean, regions are Queen Charlotte Sound proximus). Only tomcod possesses a and is closely related to the famous (434-2,722 t/yr) and Georgia Strait , a short one. The tomcod is a cod (Gadus morhua) of the north and adjacent straits (907-1,168 t/yr). 'mini-cod' and rarely exceeds 30 cm Atlantic Ocean. Species mis-named These large fluctuations in annual in length. A similar species exists in 'cod' in British Columbia include landings have been attributed, to the northwest Atlantic Ocean. blackcod ( Anoplopoma fimbria), date, to factors other than fishing. Pacific cod, Pacific tomcod and lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus) and walleye pollack are the only species (numerous species of rock­ Only Canadian and U.S. vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean that , ). None of these is participated in this . Virtually possess three dorsal fins and two closely related to, or resembles, all Pacific cod are caught by otter anal fins . Pacific cod. trawl, principally in 30-60 fm (55- 110 m) of water. Recreational BIOLOGY Geographical range of Pacific for Pacific cod are Spawning season for Pacific cod is the continental shelf of North negligible. in B.C. waters is February - March America and Asia, from southern in most areas. Eggs are fertilized in California to the Yell ow Sea. DESCRIPTION the water. To date (1980), no However, the range for commercial Colour of Pacific cod is mottled fertilized eggs have been observed or abundance is much smaller. No grey-green on the back, shading into collected in the sea. In the appreciable commercial fisheries off-white on the belly. Distinguishing laboratory, fertilized eggs are heavier exist off North America south of features are the three dorsal fins, two than sea water, and are slightly Grays Harbour, Washington. anal fins, and a long barbel adhesive. This suggests that the eggs Commercial fisheries exist for ('whisker') extending downward from incubate on the bottom. Laboratory Pacific cod throughout B.C. waters, the outer tip of the lower jaw. Most incubation lasted eight to nine days and landings are particularly large members of the cod family at ll°C, and 17 days at 5°C. from Hecate Strait. During 1960- ( ) possess three dorsal fins Bottom temperatures on the 78, Pacific cod landings from B.C. and two anal fins , but not all possess spawning grounds in B. C. are usually waters ranged from 3,500 to 16,700 a barbel. In B.C. waters, there are 7-8°C. Newly hatched larvae are tonne (t) per year. Principal regions ~ three other gadids - Pacific hake about 4.5 mm long. Subsequent

Information Branch 1090 West Pender Street Fisheries and Oceans (Pacific) Vancouver, B.C. 666-1384 growth of cod is rapid but life is Migrations of Pacific cod between short. Cod reach an average length major regions are relatively rare. of about 26 cm (0.2 kg) at age one; Tagging experiments have been 43 cm (0.7 kg) at age two; 55 cm conducted in Hecate Strait, Georgia (1.6 kg) at age three; and 63 cm (2.4 Strait, , and off the kg) at age four. Few Pacific cod northwest Washington coast (by survive past age four. Maximum U.S. scientists), and off southwest recorded length is 100 cm (9. 7 kg). Vancouver Island. Few cod tagged in Some cod mature as early as age Hecate Strait were recaptured else­ two, and virtually all are mature at where in Canadian or U.S. waters, age three. Female cod lay large and few tagged elsewhere were numbers of eggs, and the quantity recaptured in Hecate Strait. No cod increases with increasing length - were tagged in Queen Charlotte 600,000 at 50 cm; 1,200,000 at 60 Sound, and few tagged elsewhere cm; and 2,100,000 at 70 cm. were recaptured there. A modest migration of cod has been Diet of Pacific cod is quite variable, demonstrated to occur between four but in general, small cod (less than . southern regions: Georgia Strait, 50 cm) eat plankton (euphausiids or Puget Sound, southwest Vancouver ) and large cod (greater than Island and the northwest Washington 49 cm) eat , and shrimp. coast. Principal fish species in the diet are and sandlance (needlefish).

Fact Sheet 1980