Pacific cod
*MSC certified January 2010
- Latin Name: Gadus macrocephalus
- Location: Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands (BSAI)
- Season: January 20-December 31
- Total BSAI Catch/Quota:
2011 catch: 218,450 metric tons; quota: 227,950 metric tons
(2011 Catcher Processor A80 catch: 24,750 metric tons, quota: 27,277 metric tons) - Products: Collar-bone on/H&G (CBO), Collarbone-off/H&G (Jcut) and whole round
- Volume: Pacific cod is approximately 7-10% of North Star Fishing Co.’s total annual production
- Size: Maximum size up to 6 feet, average H&G weight for Bering Sea cod 450 gr – 3 kg
- Size Specification for J-Cut: weight per fish
3L: 4 – 6 kg
2L: 3 – 4 kg
L: 2 – 3 kg
M: 1 – 2 kg
S: .7 – 1 kg
SS: .45 – .7 kg
SSS: under 450 gr
Whole round: 400 – 650 gr - Size Specification CBO: weight per fish
*production of CBO is on a special order basis and depends on available annual quota
4L: 6 kg +
3L: 4 – 6 kg
2L: 3 – 4 kg
L: 2 – 3 kg - General Information: Pacific cod are harvested with bottom and pelagic trawls, long lines (hook and line), and pots (or traps). Quota is divided between these different gear types and further between catcher-processor trawl (AFA and A80), catcher vessel trawl. Production of Pacific cod by the H&G A80 fleet is dependent on the annual TAC quota set. Pacific cod is generally an incidental catch from other targeted sole fisheries. The quota assigned to the co-op member companies is a “hard cap”. When their limit is reached, vessels in the A80 fleet must stop fishing. Given this limiting factor, North Star Fishing Co. vessels are conservative in “A” season (January – April) catches of Pacific cod. Cod production is spread throughout the season and is from 5 – 50 mt per vessel per trip.
Additional information on Pacific cod can be found at NMFS Fishwatch.