Take the Money & Run

French ad for cod liver oil

amorphous waver-

ing rocks—three fathom
the vitreous

body through which—
small scudding fish deep
down—and

now a lulling lift
and fall—

red stars—a severed cod-

head between twogreen stones—lifting

From, 'A Cod Head'

William Carlos Williams, 1934

Commercial Extinction

Belonging to the family, gadidae and to the genus, Gadus, the codfish has shaped the course of history. In fact, Gadus morhua, the Atlantic cod,  was so popular, and the revenues from its sale so enticing that over fishing finally drove several cod stocks to collapse. In the early 1990’s, in many areas of the world, the Atlantic cod was pronounced commercially extinct.

When a species or population can no longer be fished profitably, it is said to be commercially extinct. Commercial extinction is preceded by population depletion, usually caused by overfishing. After fifteen years of moratorium on cod fishing, populations are showing signs of recovery, but it could be yet another five years until the Marine Stewardship Council   (MSC) can safely certify that fishing cod will not affect its ability to sustain population levels and therefore avoid yet another collapse. Added to that, scientists expect that rising ocean temperatures will have a detrimental effect on breeding.

Good Vibrations:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-963CTDLy68

Good Reads: Cod  by Mark Kurlansky