Major commercial fish of North Pacific. Used in fish sticks and surimi.

Also called: Walleye Pollock, Alaska Pollock

Native status: Native to North Pacific

§ Quick facts

SizeLength 40–80 cm; record 100 cm
Weight0.5–4 kg; record 7 kg
LifespanWild 12–22 years
OrderGadiformes
FamilyGadidae

§ Encyclopedia

The Alaska pollock also known as Pacific pollock or walleye pollock is a marine fish species of the cod genus Gadus and family Gadidae.

Source: Wikipedia — Alaska pollock Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Slender olive-brown fish with three dorsal fins (gadid character); barbel on chin; deeply forked tail.

Similar species. Pacific Cod (chunkier; different proportions). Atlantic Pollock (different ocean). Hake species (different shape).

Voice. Silent.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Zooplankton (juveniles), small fish, krill (adults).

Behavior. Largest US single-species fishery by volume — ~1.5 million tonnes harvested annually in Bering Sea. Among the most-consumed fish in the US, though most consumers never know it (sold as fish sticks, McDonald's Filet-O-Fish, surimi/imitation crab). Managed under the most data-intensive fishery in the US; quotas set annually based on intensive stock assessments.

§ Range

North Pacific

§ Habitat

Cold North Pacific waters

§ Threats

Overfishing, climate change.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the pollock (alaskan) is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

Buy MSC-certified pollock.

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§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • NOAA Fisheries Alaska
  • North Pacific Fishery Management Council
  • Marine Stewardship Council
  • IUCN Red List 2014