Cod is a type of large fish that lives in cold ocean waters, especially in the North Atlantic. Cod have been one of the most important food fish in history. For centuries, cod fishing drove exploration and settlement of North America. Fishermen caught massive quantities of cod, which they preserved by salting and drying it so it wouldn't spoil during long journeys. This salted cod could feed sailors on voyages lasting months or even years.

Cod have mild-tasting white flesh that flakes apart easily when cooked. In England, fish and chips traditionally uses cod. In New England, cod appears in chowders and fish cakes. The fish can grow quite large, sometimes over four feet long and weighing more than 50 pounds, though most caught today are much smaller.

Unfortunately, people caught so many cod over the years that cod populations crashed dramatically. Some fishing areas that once teemed with cod now have very few. This shows how even an abundant resource can be depleted if we're not careful about conservation. Today, fishing regulations try to help cod populations recover while still allowing some fishing to continue.