Haddock
Haddock are fish native to the North Atlantic Ocean, typically growing between one and three feet long and weighing two to four pounds, though larger individuals can be found. They possess a distinctive feature known as the St. Peter's thumbmark, a blotch located behind their gills. As bottom-feeders, haddock inhabit depths ranging from 150 to 600 feet and are known to form large schools. Their diet consists mostly of sea stars, sea urchins, crustaceans, mollusks, and smaller fish, and they are recognized for their swimming agility powered by various fins.
During their spawning season, from January to June, haddock migrate to the North Sea and breeding grounds off Iceland, where females release eggs that float to midwater, providing a temporary refuge for young haddock among jellyfish tentacles. However, this behavior can expose them to danger, as they may be stung and consumed. While haddock typically live up to 10 years, the oldest recorded individual was 14 years old. Unfortunately, overfishing has led to their classification as a vulnerable species, contributing to declining populations. Haddock are also popular as a food source for humans, often prepared as a smoked dish called finnan haddie.
On this Page
Haddock
Haddock are fish that can be found in the North Atlantic Ocean. Young haddock often take shelter under the stinging tentacles of blue jellyfish. Although they are protected from other predators, they sometimes swim against these tentacles and are stung, paralyzed, and eaten.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Gadiformes
Family: Gadidae
Genus: Melanogrammus
Species: Aeglefinus
Haddock usually grow to be between one and three feet (30 and 91 centimeters) long and weigh between two and four pounds (one and two kilograms), but some weigh far more. The most recognizable feature of a haddock is the large blotch behind its gills. This blotch is known as the St. Peter's thumbmark.
Haddock are found in the cold waters of the North Atlantic. As bottom-feeders, they may be found at depths of between 150 and 600 feet (45 and 180 centimeters). Haddock are also schooling fish, or fish which travel in large groups called shoals.
Haddock swim through the water by the movement of their many fins. Their caudal, or tail, and pectoral, or side, fins move back and forth through the water paddling and propelling these fish. While they are swimming and while they are resting, haddock are kept balanced by the positioning of their dorsal and anal, or back and belly, fins.
Haddock are carnivorous fish. Carnivorous means to eat meat. Haddock feed on sea stars, sea urchins, crustaceans, mollusks, and smaller fish and their eggs along the ocean bed. Unlike many cod, haddock do not rise to the surface of the water, even in pursuit of prey.
Haddock are often caught, sold, and eaten by humans. They are smoked and served as a dish known as finnan haddie.
Spawning season for haddock takes place between January and June, with most of the mating occurring during the months of February and March. Haddock travel to the North Sea and to a breeding ground of the coast of Iceland to do their spawning. Spawning takes place when female haddock release their free-floating eggs, and the males fertilize them. This act of reproduction often takes place at depths of up to 300 feet (90 meters). When the eggs are released, they often float up from the bottom of the ocean to midwater areas. After the eggs hatch, young haddock swim around in these midwater areas for a while. During their time spent in this midwater region they often hide from predators beneath the stinging tentacles of blue jellyfish. Although this is a good protection from other predators, haddock are not immune to the poisons of these tentacles. Sometimes young haddock swim against these tentacles and are stung, paralyzed, and eaten. When the young haddock have grown to be about two inches (five centimeters) long, they move down to the bottom of the ocean and become bottom-feeders.
Young haddock may be preyed upon by skates, spiny dogfish, cod, and halibut. Adult haddock may be eaten by seals.
The oldest haddock every recorded was found off the coast of Nova Scotia and was 14 years old. Haddock generally live longer than cod, but usually die by 10 years old. Overfishing has caused the haddock to become a vulnerable species with declining population numbers.
Bibliography
“Haddock Fish Facts - Melanogrammus Aeglefinus.” A-Z Animals, 11 Sept. 2022, a-z-animals.com/animals/haddock. Accessed 8 Apr. 2024.
“Haddock.” NOAA Fisheries, www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/haddock. Accessed 8 Apr. 2024.