Arctic Cod (Boreogadus saida)

Arctic Cod (Boreogadus saida) – a cold-loving schooling or flocking pelagic fish of Gadidaefamily. Occurs in circumpolar areas in all the Arctic seas. Occurs in the Russian Arctic from Spitsbergen in the west to the Bering Sea in the east. The length is up to 35 cm, usually within 12–16 cm. A.C. keeps to the ice edge and in the coastal area. A.C. endures desalinated or even fresh water migrating quite high up the rivers. Occurs at the temperature of 0 °C to −1.8 °C during the major part of the year preferring the waters with the temperature of 0.6 °C to 2.2 °C in the autumn. In the autumn and winter, A.C. gather in large flocks near the shores. A.C. mature at 3–4 years of age reaching the length of 19–20 cm. The spawning occurs from October till March. The eggs are pelagic. The breeding performance is 9–21 thousand eggs. Feeds predominantly on the crustaceans, seldom on small fish. A.C. is an important item of certain sea animal and fish-eating bird diets. It is also eaten by land...