Cod facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gadidae |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: |
Gadidae
|
Cod is a type of fish that lives in the ocean. It is a teleost fish, which means it has a skeleton made of bone. Cod are known as large predators, meaning they hunt other animals for food. There are about 12 different groups, called genera, of cod.
Cod is a very important fish for people who fish for a living. It is also popular to eat because it has a mild taste. The livers of cod are used to make cod liver oil, which is a healthy supplement. Cod is often used for Fish and Chips, along with Haddock and Plaice.
Cod has been traded for a long time, even since the time of the Vikings. Cod can grow quite large, up to about 5 feet long. The biggest cod ever caught weighed around 104 pounds!
Contents
About Cod Fish
Cod fish are found in the cold, deep waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. They usually live near the bottom of the sea. Cod are strong swimmers and can live for many years.
What Cod Eat
Cod are predators, which means they hunt other sea creatures. Young cod often eat small crustaceans like shrimp. As they grow bigger, cod start to eat smaller fish, squid, and other animals that live on the seabed. They use their good eyesight and sense of smell to find food.
Cod and People
For hundreds of years, cod has been a very important food source for people. It is caught by fishermen all over the world. Cod can be eaten fresh, frozen, or dried. Dried cod was especially important for sailors and people in places where fresh fish was hard to get.
Cod Liver Oil
Cod liver oil is a special oil made from the livers of cod fish. It is full of important vitamins, like Vitamin A and Vitamin D. These vitamins are good for your bones, eyes, and immune system. Many people take cod liver oil as a health supplement.
Overfishing Concerns
Because cod is so popular, sometimes too many are caught by fishermen. This is called overfishing. When too many fish are caught, it can make it hard for the cod population to grow back. Scientists and fishermen work together to try and manage fishing so that there will always be enough cod for the future.
Images for kids
-
The Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua
-
A fish with its gills infested with two cod worms
-
Preserved codfish
-
Sixteenth-century Flemish fishmonger displaying cod, by Joachim Beuckelaer
-
The Atlantic fishery abruptly collapsed in 1992, following overfishing since the late 1950s, and an earlier partial collapse in the 1970s.
