HaddockHaddock
Details
- Latin name:Melanogrammus aeglefinus
- Seafood type: Haddock
- Harvest method: Bottom trawl
- Region: Canada
- Wild/Farmed:Wild
Status:
Not Recommended Haddock
Credit: FAO
Sustainable alternatives:
Haddock caught in Canada using Handlines or bottom longlines are a more sustainable option.
Sustainability concerns:
Bottom Trawls disturb the seabed, often causing irreversible damage to seafloor species and habitats.
Stock status of Atlantic Haddock is still below historic levels.
Atlantic Haddock is a commercially important groundfish in the US and Canada. Harvested in a variety of ways, only those caught by hook-and-line and bottom longline are considered sustainable.
Life History and Population Status:
Haddock is a member of the cod family. They reach maturity at 2-3 yrs but females have increased egg-production with age. Early maturation and high reproductive output makes this species resilient to fishing pressure; however, stocks in Atlantic Canada have all been previously overfished. Stocks are currently re-building and some stocks show definite signs of recovery, albeit at a lower abundance.
Management:
Management of Haddock includes regular stock assessments and regulatory measures that aim to maintain stock productivity. Management plans have attempted to mitigate habitat damage by closing large areas of ecologically sensitive habitat to trawling. Despite these measures stock abundance is still below historic levels in the US and habitat damage is still a serious concern in all bottom trawl fisheries.
Impact on Other Species:
Bottom trawls are indiscriminate, which results in considerable bycatch of unmarketable, illegal and undersized target species as well as non-target species.
Habitat and Ecosystem Impacts:
Bottom trawling causes significant damage to the sea bed, modifying habitats (such as spawning grounds and nursery habitat) that are essential to many groundfish species.
Notes:
- No or little concern in this area.
- Significant concern in this area.
- Area under study.
