Domestication of Gadids : the cases of cod and pollack

Abstract

The term «domestication» has a legislative meaning when it applies to species submitted to selection pressures, but also a literary one, according to the time since which the species live closed to men and the possibility of controlling their reproduction. In terms of legislation, none of both species of gadids object of this article, cod and pollack, can be considered as domestic. From a literary point of view, 140 years of research and the control of the reproduction, give to the cod a domestic status. It is not the case with pollack, only studied since ten years and the reproduction of which is still badly controlled. The weak differences observed between the performances of breeding and wild cods focus the still limited impact of the domestication on this species. Thanks to its aquaculture development in the North Europe and America, fish farming techniques as well as selection programs should be available, facilitating the cod to reach a domestic status such as considered by the legislator.