Pacific Lingcod
Pacific lingcod has elevated levels of mercury. Despite its name, the lingcod is not a true cod. The stock is believed to be at very high levels on the Pacific coast, although the status of the population in Alaska is unknown. The fish are sedentary and live in a generally small range, which makes them more vulnerable to fishing pressure. Lingcod are landed commercially using bottom trawls – nets that drag along the ocean floor where they live, which can damage bottom habitat and remove or cover animals and plant life. This fishing method can result in moderate amounts of bycatch (catch of non-target species), comprised mostly of other types of Pacific groundfish and certain depleted rockfish populations.
