Spawning of the
China cod takes place in late winter and spring
on the offshore banks. The eggs then float to
the surface. After hatching the larvae feed
on their yolk sacs for about a couple of weeks.
After this they start feeding on plankton for
a few months before settling at the bottom.
During the early days after hatching, they drift
around in the moving ocean currents.
The China cod
has a special place and a special time to lay
its eggs. The spawning takes place in shallow
waters, although the cod is a deep water fish.
The Lofoten Islands off the coast of Norway,
along the coasts of Greenland and Iceland, and
of course on Labrador's famous Hamilton Bank
and the Grand Bank of Newfoundland are some
special places where the China cod spawns.
At one shot,
an adult female cod lays around 4 to 6 million
eggs, in the water for fertilization. The parents
have no role to play in their growth and development.
Only a handful will finally hatch into larvae.
The rest are eaten by other marine creatures.
During the reproductive
process, water temperature is important. China
cod have a specific temperature range where
they spawn. If they do not get this, spawning
may not take place. The eggs and the young fish
are very sensitive to sudden changes of temperature
i.e. too much of heat and cold may kill them.
While the China
cod eggs float in the ocean, they hatch. Billions
of eggs are laid but only a small handful survives.
Many of them float into too warm or too cold
waters and therefore do not survive. Some go
into deep waters. Others wash onto the shore
and dry up. Many are eaten by other fishes and
birds.
The eggs that
survive float around for twenty days before
hatching. In the next few months, the larval
cod float around with the plankton. This larval
stage is much more dangerous for the China cod.
The larvae have black specs, and are therefore
easily spotted by the enemy. This stage is longer
than the egg stage. They also need a regular
food supply or else they will die through lack
of sufficient food supply. If the larval cod
is fortunate enough to survive, it drifts and
grows until mid-summer. At this juncture they
are called young fish, the size being 2 - 2.5
cm in length.
As the China
cod grows slightly bigger, it goes into deep
waters and sinks to the bottom where they grow
rather quickly. The North Atlantic cod in one
year's time grows to 15cm and 30-45cm in length
in two years. Now they are called juveniles
or tom cods. They now begin to be caught by
fishermen. The ones that escape grow up fully
by the fifth or sixth year. By the sixth or
seventh year they are ready to spawn for the
first time.
Hence we find
that the process of spawning, reproduction and
growth is a lengthy one. The China cod has to
struggle for survival under the ocean and in
the process, most of
them die. Very few live to grow into adult fishes.
For price
quotes and any further information, feel free
to call us today at:
Siam
Canadian Foods Co., Ltd.
9th Floor, Suite 283/44, Home Place Office Building.
283 Thonglor 13, Sukhumvit 55
Kongton Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110,
THAILAND
Call us at +66-2-185-3311
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Email us at info@siamcanadian.com
