A North Atlantic gadoid harvested at huge scale, the white-fleshed backbone of fish fingers and surimi.
Where it lives
European pollock range across the northeast Atlantic from Norway to the Bay of Biscay, including the British Isles and the North Sea. Adults haunt rocky reefs, wrecks, and kelp forests from inshore down to 200 m. The closely related Pacific pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) supports an even larger Bering Sea fishery.
How to recognise it
A streamlined gadoid with three dorsal fins and two anal fins. Unlike cod, the chin barbel is tiny or absent and the lower jaw protrudes beyond the upper. The back is greenish brown, flanks silvery; the lateral line is dark and strongly arched over the pectoral fins.
Diet & behavior
Pollock hunt in midwater packs, chasing sand eels, herring, and sprat, plus krill and shrimps. They are active swimmers, far less benthic than cod. Spawning happens in late winter over deep offshore grounds.
Fisheries & Conservation
Globally Least Concern. Pacific pollock is one of the largest fisheries in the world by volume; its mild flesh supplies fish-stick and surimi (imitation-crab) markets.
Find more fish by letter
Pollock starts with P and ends with K. Browse other fish along the same letter.
Fish that contain a letter from "Pollock":