'Shrinking' cod: How humans have altered the genetic make-up of fish

Cod used to be giants. With their impressive size—over a meter in length and weighing up to 40 kilograms—and abundance, they, alongside herring, were the backbone of the Baltic fishery. Today, a fully grown cod would fit neatly on a dinner plate. That is, if fishing them were still permitted: due to the collapse of the stock, a ban on targeted cod fishing has been in place since 2019.

Jun 25, 2025 - 19:10
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Cod used to be giants. With their impressive size—over a meter in length and weighing up to 40 kilograms—and abundance, they, alongside herring, were the backbone of the Baltic fishery. Today, a fully grown cod would fit neatly on a dinner plate. That is, if fishing them were still permitted: due to the collapse of the stock, a ban on targeted cod fishing has been in place since 2019.