Cod: 8 key ideas
The core ideas of Cod, each in under a minute, written in our own words. Want the full depth? Get the book.
- IDEA 1 OF 8
A fish changed history
Kurlansky argues that the Atlantic cod shaped history, trade and settlement.
Because it was abundant, easy to dry and salt, and rich in protein, cod became one of the most important foods in the world.
- IDEA 2 OF 8
Basques kept a secret
Kurlansky describes how Basque fishermen supplied salt cod to Europe for centuries, apparently from distant waters they kept secret.
Some believe they reached North American fishing grounds early. Their source was a mystery.
- IDEA 3 OF 8
Cod drew settlers to America
Kurlansky describes how cod attracted Europeans to the coasts of North America.
Fishing communities grew in Newfoundland and New England. Fishing shaped their economy and culture. Towns grew around the catch.
- IDEA 4 OF 8
Cod fed the slave trade
Kurlansky describes how salt cod became part of the triangle trade, feeding enslaved people in the Caribbean.
This linked cod to slavery. A cheap fish fed a cruel system. It is a dark chapter.
- IDEA 5 OF 8
Nations fought over cod
Kurlansky describes the Cod Wars between Britain and Iceland in the twentieth century, disputes over fishing rights.
Iceland expanded its fishing zones. Naval vessels clashed. Iceland largely won these disputes.
- IDEA 6 OF 8
The Grand Banks were rich
Kurlansky describes the Grand Banks off Newfoundland, once among the world's richest fishing grounds.
Cod seemed endless there. Fishermen thought supplies would never end. Generations depended on them. Few imagined decline.
- IDEA 7 OF 8
Overfishing caused collapse
Kurlansky describes how industrial fishing led to the collapse of cod stocks.
In 1992, Canada banned cod fishing on the Grand Banks. Thousands of jobs vanished. Stocks have struggled to recover.
- IDEA 8 OF 8
Resources can run out
Kurlansky warns that even abundant resources can be exhausted.
The story of cod is a lesson about sustainability. Careful management is essential. Nature has limits, even in the vast ocean.
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