Recommendation
At a glance
Pacific cod caught on the U.S. West Coast with bottom trawls is rated yellow. The stock's status is unknown, but overfishing is unlikely. There are some concerns about other species that are caught with cod. However, effective management reduces the likelihood of overfishing as well as impacts on seafloor habitat. Policies are being developed to protect the ecosystem.
Under the U.S. Seafood Import Monitoring Program, companies must track their Pacific cod imports from the point of harvest to when they enter the U.S. This program aims to stop illegally caught or counterfeit seafood from entering the American market.
Update in progress
This rating is currently being updated. Track our assessments.
Overall score: 3.130
Impacts on the Species Under Assessment
3.318
Impacts on Other Species
2.644
Management Effectiveness
3.464
Impacts on the Habitat and Ecosystem
3.162
FISHING METHOD
Bottom trawls
Bottom trawls herd and sieve fish with two or more cone-shaped nets that have smaller mesh bags called codends, which retain the catch. Trawl nets are configured to stay open in different ways. Often floating headropes and weighted footropes hold the nets open vertically, and beams, otter boards, or two boats keep them open horizontally. When in use, fish are herded into the codend as the gear is towed on or near the seafloor. Bottom trawls are used to catch cod, crab, flounder, pollock, rockfish, shrimp, and many other species.
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