Pacific Cod
Gadus macrocephalus
Also known as Cod, Alaska cod, Gray cod, True cod
Culinary Profile
Pacific cod is a mild-tasting fish.
Cooked Pacific cod is lean and flaky. Its moisture content is a bit higher than that of Atlantic cod, making the meat less firm.
Pacific cod is a good source of low-fat protein, phosphorus, niacin, and vitamin B12.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
Pacific cod are also known as gray cod because of their color—they’re brown or grayish with dark spots or patterns on the sides and a paler belly. They have a long chin barbell (a whisker-like organ near the mouth, like on a catfish) and dusky fins with white edges.
Biology
Pacific cod live for 20 years or less. They can grow up to 6 feet in length. Females are able to reproduce when they’re 4 or 5 years old, when they are between 1.6 and 1.9 feet long. Pacific cod spawn from January to May on the continental shelf edge and upper slope in waters 330 to 820 feet deep. Females can produce more than 1 million eggs when they spawn.
Where They Live
Range Pacific cod are found in the coastal North Pacific Ocean, from the Bering Sea to Southern California in the east and to the Sea of Japan in the west. They are less common in Central California and are rare in Southern California. Habitat During the winter, Pacific cod live on the continental shelf edge and upper continental slope in waters 300 to more than 800 feet deep.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Year-round.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from Alaska, Washington, and Oregon.
Commercial Fishery & Harvest
Commercial fishery: Pacific cod is the second largest commercial groundfish catch off Alaska and virtually all of the United States. In 2024, commercial harvest of Pacific cod totaled approximately 375 million pounds, and was worth $106 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . Most Pacific cod comes from the Bering and Barents Seas and the Gulf of Alaska and is harvested by the United States, Canada, Russia, and the Republic of Korea. Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch: Pacific cod are typically harvested along with several different groundfish species with longlines (hook-and-line) and bottom trawl gear. Pots (or traps) and jig gear are also used to catch Pacific cod.
Nutritional Benchmarking Across 65 Species
Where Pacific Cod ranks against the rest of the catalogue on each of USDA FoodData Central's per-100 g nutrient measures.
| Nutrient | Value | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choline | 65.2 mg | 7 / 65 | 89% |
| Vitamin D | 0.9 IU | 40 / 54 | 26% |
| Phosphorus | 203 mg | 60 / 111 | 46% |
| Zinc | 0.45 mg | 64 / 111 | 42% |
| Protein | 17.81 g | 66 / 111 | 41% |
| Omega-3 DHA | 120 mg | 70 / 104 | 33% |
| Omega-3 EPA | 64 mg | 74 / 104 | 29% |
| Iron | 0.38 mg | 75 / 111 | 32% |
| Selenium | 33.1 µg | 82 / 106 | 23% |
| Vitamin B12 | 0.91 µg | 93 / 106 | 12% |
Other Species in Genus Gadus
2 close biological relatives of Pacific Cod profiled in this catalogue — typically sharing similar anatomy, depth range, and fishery management.
| Species | Scientific name | Protein (g/100 g) | Omega-3 DHA (mg) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Pollock | Gadus chalcogrammus | 17.17 | 160 | Smart Choice |
| Atlantic Cod | Gadus morhua | 17.81 | 120 | Smart Choice |
Other Alaska Fisheries
Sustainable species managed out of the same regional fishery council as Pacific Cod.
Arrowtooth Flounder
Atheresthes stomias
Mild, sweet flavor.
Bocaccio
Sebastes paucispinis
Delicate, nutty, sweet flavor.
Canary Rockfish
Sebastes pinniger
Delicate, nutty, sweet flavor.
Chinook Salmon
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Chinook salmon has a pronounced buttery, rich taste. They are the most highly prized salmon in the culinary world.
Chum Salmon
Oncorhynchus keta
Chum salmon has a lower oil content than other wild salmon, so it has a relatively mild flavor.
Coho Salmon
Oncorhynchus kisutch
Smaller coho have a delicate flavor. Fillets from larger fish have a mild taste.
Dover Sole
Microstomus pacificus
Mild and sweet.
English Sole
Parophrys vetulus
Mild taste with a slight shellfish flavor.
Flathead Sole
Hippoglossoides elassodon
Mild and delicate flavor.
Geoduck
Panopea generosa
The neck is tough and crunchy, while the belly meat is tender and sweet.
Similar by Flavour: Other Mild-Tasting Species
If you enjoy the mild flavour profile of Pacific Cod, these other species in the catalogue will feel familiar on the palate.
Acadian Redfish
Sebastes fasciatus
Mild and slightly sweet. Redfish can be used as a substitute for haddock and similar fish.
Alaska Pollock
Gadus chalcogrammus
Pollock has mild-tasting flesh and is similar to other white fish like cod or haddock.
American Lobster
Homarus americanus
Mild and sweet.
Arrowtooth Flounder
Atheresthes stomias
Mild, sweet flavor.
Atlantic Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus
Bigeye tuna has a mild, meaty flavor, with a higher fat content than yellowfintuna. Sashimi lovers prefer it.
Atlantic Cod
Gadus morhua
Atlantic cod has a mild clean flavor. It is sweeter than Pacific cod.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Pacific Cod found?
Range Pacific cod are found in the coastal North Pacific Ocean, from the Bering Sea to Southern California in the east and to the Sea of Japan in the west. They are less common in Central California and are rare in Southern California. Habitat During the winter, Pacific cod live on the continental shelf edge and upper continental slope in waters 300 to more than 800 feet deep.
What is the stock status of Pacific Cod?
The Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska stocks are not overfished. The Aleutian Islands and Pacific Coast stocks have not been assessed. Although these population levels are unknown, management measures are in place.
How much Pacific Cod is caught commercially?
Commercial fishery: Pacific cod is the second largest commercial groundfish catch off Alaska and virtually all of the United States. In 2024, commercial harvest of Pacific cod totaled approximately 375 million pounds, and was worth $106 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database .
Sustainability Story
U.S. wild-caught Pacific cod is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Stock Structure
There are four stocks of Pacific cod: Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska, Aleutian Islands, and Pacific coast. According to the most recent stock assessments: The Bering Sea stock is not overfished (2024 stock assessment) and not subject to overfishing based on 2024 catch data. Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART .
Population
The Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska stocks are not overfished. The Aleutian Islands and Pacific Coast stocks have not been assessed. Although these population levels are unknown, management measures are in place.
Fishing Rate
Not subject to overfishing.
Habitat Impacts
Area closures and gear restrictions protect habitat that are affected by some types of fishing gear used to harvest Pacific cod.
Bycatch
Measures restricting the type of gear fishermen may use and when and where they may fish reduce bycatch of other species in the U.S. Pacific cod fisheries.
Management
NOAA Fisheries and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council , manage the Pacific cod fishery in Alaska. Managed under the Gulf of Alaska Groundfish Fishery Management Plan : Total allowable catch is allocated by gear type and processing sector in the western and central Gulf of Alaska and by processing sector (90 percent to the inshore sector and 10 percent to the offshore…
Data Source: NOAA Fisheries
Nutritional Profile
per 100 g raw edible portion · 21 values
Energy
Macronutrients
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Vitamins
Minerals
Source: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy). %DV is percent of 2,000-kcal daily value for adults.
calendar_month Harvest Season
Frozen available year-round.