# Are Atlantic Cods Endangered?

> Are atlantic cods endangered? Status Vulnerable, main threats, and what protection means.

- **Species:** Atlantic Cod (*Gadus morhua*)
- **Conservation status:** Vulnerable
- **Diet:** Carnivore — fish, crustaceans, and worms
- **Habitat:** Cold continental shelf waters of the North Atlantic
- **Lifespan:** Up to 25 years in the wild
- **Top speed:** Steady swimmer; schooling migrations
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/cod/are-cod-endangered/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/cod/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

Atlantic cod is a cold-water groundfish that shaped the economies of Newfoundland, Iceland, and New England for centuries before overfishing collapsed many stocks. Growing to 40 kg (88 lb) and living 25 years, it supports fisheries where recovered and remains Vulnerable in the northwest Atlantic.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need the full biology — use the [Atlantic Cod profile](https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/cod/) instead.

## Historic fishery collapse

Northwest Atlantic cod stocks crashed in 1992 when Canada's Grand Banks fishery closed — one of history's most famous fishery collapses after centuries of seemingly unlimited harvest. Recovery has been partial and slow, illustrating how even prolific species can be depleted.

## Help protect the Atlantic Cod

Atlantic cod stocks collapsed from overfishing and still face pressure from trawling and climate change.

[Donate to wildlife protection](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/donate/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/cod/are-cod-endangered/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.