Cod — Atlantic

1000s - present

“Today there are so few left that they have got endangered status in Canada and the cod populations have not rebounded despite a moratorium on cod fishing since 1992 . . . The might of the fishing army has grown exponentially in the last 50 years. The amount of fishing power that we have at our command today far outweighs our ability to control ourselves. Fishing has transformed entire ecosystems. In fact, I would say one of the largest-scale transformations of the planetary environment has been the impact of bottom trawlers . . . The signs of destruction brought up on deck by a trawl would make an angel weep."

Most Pressing Issues

Overfishing

There are so few fish that fishers to- day have to work seventeen times harder to get the same catch as people did in the nineteenth century.

Trawling

Fishing trawlers’ efficient technology clean out the entire ocean floor, pulling massive amounts of cod and other species into its jaws, leaving nothing.

Climate Change

The increase in temperature negatively affects cod prey, like plankton and capelin, and impacts the growth of cod populations.

Habitat Loss

The destruction of important habitat areas, such as nursery grounds where juveniles mature, is increasing.

Historic Population

How You Can Help

The Marine Conservation Institute

The Marine Conservation Institute is dedicated to securing permanent, strong protection for the oceans’ most important places – for us and future generations.

Oceana

Oceana is dedicated to protecting and restoring the world’s oceans on a global scale by winning policy victories in the countries that govern much of the world’s marine life.