Population substructure is apparent with North Sea Atlantic cod (González-Irusta and Wright 2016)(ICES 2019)(Jorde et al. 2018). Numerous sub-populations both inshore and offshore mix throughout the range of this meta-stock. Until 2010, ICES provided advice on these sub-populations. In recent years, however, ICES has only provided advice for the overall meta-population given the uncertainty in mixing among the components by area and season. While the current ICES approach is reasonable given the uncertainty, different sub-populations are experiencing declines in biomass at different rates (ICES 2019)(ICES 2019). ICES recognizes that stock identity is an issue for assessment (ICES 2022).

This profile is for cod in North Sea, eastern English Channel, and Skagerrak (Subarea 4 Division 7.d and subdivision 20).