Who names these things anyway? Black Cod are neither black, nor cod, but really a commercial vernacular for the Sablefish. Regardless of what you call it, it’s been treasured in Japan for centuries and has recently become popular in the US. In addition to its ethereal taste, it has the highest amount of Omega-3 Fatty Acids of any commercially sold fish.
The commercial sablefish industry is highly regulated with strict catch-limit quotas. Our Black Cod (Sablefish) is wild-caught by MSC-certified fisheries off the coast of Alaska, British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest. These deep-sea dwellers seldom come above 700 feet below the surface, so reaching them is no simple task. They are caught using both weighted hook-and-lines and bottom-safe deep-sea traps that are specially outfitted to minimize sea floor impact.