Haddock

Mouth relatively small; lower jaw shorter than the upper jaw; chin barbel rather small. Lateral line dark, uninterrupted to about the end of the body. Lateral-line pores present on head. Scales overlapping. A large dark blotch is above the pectoral fin just below the lateral line.

Oviparous, sexes are separate (Ref. 205). Spawning occurs in typically marine waters between 50 and 150 m depth (Ref. 1371).

Oceanodromous. Migrating within oceans typically between spawning and different feeding areas, as tunas do. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Analspines: 0

Feeds mainly on benthic organisms (Ref. 26807). Preyed upon by cod, pollock, white hake, harbor and grey seals. Parasites of the species include Lepidapedon rachion, Myxidium bergense, a coccidian parasite Eimeria gadi, 4 protozoans, 2 myxosporidians, 2 trematodes, 2 cestodes, 6 nematodes, 2 acanthocephalans and 4 copepods (Ref. 5951). See also Ref. 8999.

Adults are found more commonly from 80 to 200 m, over rock, sand, gravel or shells, usually at temperatures between 4° and 10°C. Feed mainly on small bottom-living organisms including crustaceans, mollusks, echinoderms, worms and fishes (sand lance, capelin, silver hake, American eels, herring and argentines) (Ref. 5951). A batch spawner (Ref. 51846). Undertakes extensive migrations in the Barents Sea and Iceland. Sold fresh, chilled as fillets, frozen, smoked and canned. Also utilized for fish meal and animal feeds. Can be steamed, fried, broiled, boiled, microwaved and baked (Ref. 9988).

fisheries: highly commercial; aquaculture: experimental; gamefish: yes; price category: low; price reliability: reliable: based on ex-vessel price for this species