# Pacific Cod **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 19, 2022, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pacific-cod/966457 "2022-06-19T17:24:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ynnad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4491bb/32.png) [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2022, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pacific-cod/966457/1 "2022-06-19T17:24:18Z")
Why is the “wild-caught Pacific Cod” I bought at the store yesterday imported from Norway? _Poll ([view on site](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pacific-cod/966457/1))_ ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2022, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pacific-cod/966457/2 "2022-06-19T17:38:46Z")
I have no idea (or why this is a poll, for that matter) but interested in the answer. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2022, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pacific-cod/966457/3 "2022-06-19T17:56:23Z")
I came across something similar recently while looking for wild caught salmon. I found a listing that had Atlantic salmon coming from the west coast. ---
**Author:** ![Twoflower](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twoflower/32/22_2.png) [@Twoflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Twoflower)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2022, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pacific-cod/966457/4 "2022-06-19T18:46:57Z")
Salmon farms are always Atlantic salmon, and they do exist on the west coast. I’m under the impression that there’s a lot of mis-labeled fish in the market, so that’s my vote in the poll. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2022, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pacific-cod/966457/5 "2022-06-19T19:09:46Z")
In January I bought a packet of **Pacific** Supreme smoked **Atlantic** salmon. [![](https://world.openfoodfacts.org/images/products/005/813/810/2448/front_en.3.full.jpg) ](https://world.openfoodfacts.org/images/products/005/813/810/2448/front_en.3.full.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2022, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pacific-cod/966457/6 "2022-06-19T22:04:59Z")
I guessed mis-labeled cod and I’d be really surprised if it’s actually Pacific cod processed in Norway. I mean, Norway sends frozen fish to China and bring it back processed because it can be cheaper to turn it into fish fingers there. Norwegian labor is _expensive_, even compared to the US. (Even using the current terrible\* exchange rates Norwegian median salaries are 20% higher than in the US.) \*I sold my apartment in Norway and am waiting for it not to be the worst time in decades to transfer some of the money. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2022, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pacific-cod/966457/7 "2022-06-19T22:07:31Z")
Voted other; because I think it could be “caught in the Northern Pacific Ocean, frozen on the ship, transported to Norway for processing”; or could be “mislabeled Atlantic Cod”; or could be Greenlandic cod carrying a confusng label based on the theory that they’re the same species. And I have no idea which. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2022, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pacific-cod/966457/8 "2022-06-19T23:22:13Z")
The fish was caught in the North Pacific by somebody, processed and frozen and taken to Norway for packaging, then brought to the US. It doesn’t seem complicated to me. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2022, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pacific-cod/966457/9 "2022-06-20T00:03:56Z")
Sounds about right- > **[Pacific Cod](https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/pacific-cod)** > > U.S. wild-caught Pacific cod is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations. > **[Pacific cod - Jacob Bjørge AS](https://www.jacob-bjorge.com/pacific-cod)** > > Jacob Bjørge AS _Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) is imported to Norway from the US. It is very similar in appearance to the Norwegian cod. It can reach lengths of up to 48-49 cm and weigh up to 15 kg. It is found around the rim of the North Pacific Ocean, from the Yellow Sea to the Bering Strait, along the Aleutian Islands, and south to about Los Angeles._ ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2022, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pacific-cod/966457/10 "2022-06-20T03:37:58Z")
Not to nitpick, but it doesn’t seem possible that a cod-shaped fish that length would weigh over 30 pounds. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2022, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pacific-cod/966457/11 "2022-06-20T03:55:17Z")
> [@P-man](#): > > Not to nitpick, but it doesn’t seem possible that a cod-shaped fish that length would weigh over 30 pounds. You’re correct - that is a misprint/misstatement. Per wikipedia they can hit [40 inches](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_cod#Description). ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2022, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pacific-cod/966457/12 "2022-06-20T03:55:47Z")
wiki _It may grow up to 1 m (40 in) in length and weigh up to 15 kg (33 lb). It is found in huge schools.[[2]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_cod#cite_note-FAO-2)_ ---
**Author:** ![Kelevra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/97f17d/32.png) [@Kelevra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kelevra)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2022, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pacific-cod/966457/13 "2022-06-20T15:43:57Z")
My first job out of college was on a Russian factory ship in the Bering Sea. I kept track of the amount of fish caught and sent in a daily radio report of the tonnage. The first week I was out we were catching pacific cod until the fishery was closed and we moved on to pollock. Basically, every country has an exclusive economic zone of 200 miles from their shore. How it works (or did in 1989) is first rights go to American fishing boats. If there is still available stocks then “joint ventures” get to fish. A joint venture is an American fishing boat catching for a foreign country processing boat. Finally, if any stocks remain it can go to foreign fishing/processing boats. If one of these countries wants to fish in our zone they have to have an “observer” on board to allow for the management of the fishery. The year I was out there were 24 countries with boats in our waters. I would bet that’s how you can have Norwegian Pacific Cod. They sent a ship there to process fish caught by an American boat. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2022, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pacific-cod/966457/14 "2022-06-20T17:04:50Z")
I’m going to go with “Wild Caught Pacific Cod” is a trademark licensed by a tilapia conglomerate, along with “Sushi Grade” “Dolphin Safe” “Sustainably Harvested” along with “Halibut” and “Sockeye Salmon” ---
**Author:** ![Wrenching\_Spanners](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecb155/32.png) [@Wrenching\_Spanners](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wrenching_Spanners)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2022, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pacific-cod/966457/15 "2022-06-20T17:24:11Z")
I went with “Making It Up”, but I think it’s most likely the fish processor was using a loose definition of Norway. A lot of ocean caught fish are processed in floating fish factories - big ships custom built to receive catch from fishing boats and then send it to port. Norwegian firms are big in this market and it’s probably a Norwegian owned factory ship that “exported” the Pacific Cod into the US supply chain. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2022, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pacific-cod/966457/16 "2022-06-20T17:31:02Z")
I voted “making it up”, but after reading the thread, it looks like a Norwegian boat in the Pacific is at least as likely. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2022, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pacific-cod/966457/17 "2022-06-20T19:29:02Z")
> [@Wrenching\_Spanners](#): > > Norwegian firms are big in this market and it’s probably a Norwegian owned factory ship that “exported” the Pacific Cod into the US supply chain. That may well be. The ship that caught the fish may or may not be Norwegian. The ship that processed the fish may or may not be Norwegian. The fish may be fully packaged at sea and delivered directly to the US market from a Norwegian ship, or they may be taken back to Norway for further processing or not. Norway is shipping fresh and frozen fish to the US on a steady basis and they have boats returning to Norway on a regular basis so the travel distance isn’t all that important. Just remember, Norway doesn’t have to be involved except for some legal necessities to satisfy whatever “Imported from Norway” means. I think it is most likely the manner I stated in my previous post. I used to own a seafood restaurant and purchased over 7000 lbs. of Pacific cod each year, delivered fresh on the east coast. There might be 7000 lbs. of Pacific cod delivered to that port daily. Taking fish in fresh or frozen form to Norway for further processing is no big deal. I’d also recommend Pacific cod over the Atlantic variety. Atlantic cod have been overfished and need a break. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2022, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pacific-cod/966457/18 "2022-06-21T01:57:17Z")
> [@Kelevra](#): > > My first job out of college was on a Russian factory ship in the Bering Sea. … You totally win the thread for best attention step. Bravo! Even though you seem to have had a clean hands job above decks that sounds simply horrific. I’d be morbidly fascinated to hear more. And I say this as a guy whose first job out of college can be loosely described as chasing and occasionally killing _narcotraficantes_ in the Latin American countryside. Such fun. Not. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2022, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pacific-cod/966457/19 "2022-06-21T02:33:38Z")
Probably Tilapia grown in sewage ponds, labelled as “cod” ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2022, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pacific-cod/966457/20 "2022-06-21T03:31:40Z")
C’mon! Ain’t ya’ll never heard of Flying Fish? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pacific-cod/966457.md?page=2)