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The saffron cod (Eleginus gracilis Tilesius 1810) is a commercially harvested fish closely related to true cods (genus Gadus). It is dark grey-green to brown, with spots on its sides and pale towards the belly. It may grow to 60cm and weigh up to 1.3kg.
Its range spans the North Pacific, from off the Korean coasts until beyond Bering Straits, off the Alaskan coasts. It normally occurs in shallow coastal waters at less than 60 m depth but may also be found at depths up to 200m. The saffron cod may also enters brackish and even fresh waters, occurring quite far up rivers and streams, but remaining within regions of tidal influence.
Saffron cods begin to mature during their third year of life. They feed on fish and small crustaceans. They are commercially fished in many areas of the northwestern Pacific. The countries with the largest catches were Russian Federation. It is used for human consumption in the Russian Federation, fresh or frozen.
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