Cod

Cod (Gadidae), a delicious, white-fleshed fish, is arguably the most important fish in human history. Fishers on both sides of the Atlantic have been catching this fish forever. Cod was an important part of the Native American diet, and it’s probable that it was being harvested in Scandinavia’s coastal waters before written historical records began. The search for cod propelled the Vikings to sail the Atlantic and establish outposts in Iceland, Greenland, and Newfoundland.

There are ten codfish families, with more than 200 species. Almost all live in cold salt water in the northern hemisphere. Historically, commercial fishermen have searched for five types of cod and cod-like fish: Atlantic cod, haddock, pollock, whiting, and hake.