The cod is common in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean where it is often used for eating. Millions of tons of cod is caught by Norwegian, Russian and other fishermen along the coasts. It is packed and sold frozen or made into such seafood products as fish fingers.
The cod lives close to the bottom where it roots in the mud for clams, crayfish or worms. It also likes herring and other fish. The mouth is big and it can swallow large prey if it has the chance. Some types of cod live on the bottoms along the coasts while others live farther out in the Atlantic ocean. Cod can swim great distances in search for food or during spawning. When chasing food the cod often follows the large shoals of herring.
The cod itself does not usually swim in shoals, but gathers in smaller groups. The exception is during spawning, when it gathers in large numbers. A female cod can produce as many as 15 million eggs. These eggs contain oil and float on the surface until they hatch. If the water does not contain enough salt the roe sinks to the bottom and dies.
