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The Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) is one of 59 species of the family Gadidae. Since the discovery of the New World, the Atlantic cod has been the dominant commercial fishery species of the Northwest Atlantic. The Atlantic cod is a marine fish which occurs mainly in cool waters in northern seas. The good quality white meat from the cod has been a mainstay of the diet of New Englanders for centuries. With the severe decline in cod landings over the past decade, interest in culturing this fish has peaked. Although the landed boat price received for cod is low, market price for cultured fish usually commands a premium price. This premium is often as much as $2.20/kg over the landed boat prices and is driven by the farmer's ability to provide a consistent high quality supply of fresh product on a daily basis throughout the year. The consumer also increasingly views farmed-raised finfish as superior over wild caught fish due to raised confidence in product quality. Additionally consumers view farmed product favorably because the highly publicized decline of wild stocks has led to a view that eating wild captured products contributes to their decline. If economical rearing strategies can be identified, the aquaculture of Atlantic cod could become a viable industry in New England. Atlantic cod research at UMaine.
Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) is a member of the family gadidae, which includes cod (Gadus morhua). Both cod and haddock are groundfish, in that they are associated with the ocean floor. Haddock are known to occupy slightly warmer water that cod. Haddock, as is the case with cod, has seen dramatic declines in the numbers of fish over the past 20 years. These declines have brought about the desire to culture the species, especially since haddock is generally preferred to cod in New England. Haddock research at UMaine.
Halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus)- Page under construction.
Smelt Osmera mordox - Page under construction.
Tropical ornamental marine fish - Page under construction.