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Alaska pollack (Gadus chalcogrammus) — Gadidae

Alaska pollack

Gadus chalcogrammus
Family: Gadidae
LC · Least Concern

The Alaska pollack (Gadus chalcogrammus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Gadidae that grows up to 91 cm.

Length
91 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
0–1280.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Highly prized

Description

The Alaska pollock is a cod-like fish of the family Gadidae from the North Pacific reaching about 91 cm. The species has a streamlined, olive-brown to silvery body with three separate dorsal fins and large eyes. Adults usually live close to the bottom but sometimes appear near the surface and perform daily vertical migrations. The diet consists mainly of krill, supplemented with fishes and crustaceans. The species supports one of the largest commercial fisheries in the world: it is caught with pelagic trawls and processed into surimi and fish fillets. The fish can live to almost thirty years.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Alaska pollack?

The Alaska pollack has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a marbled pattern.

Where does the Alaska pollack live?

The Alaska pollack lives in brackish water and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Alaska pollack get?

The Alaska pollack grows to a maximum of about 91 cm.

Is the Alaska pollack dangerous to humans?

No, the Alaska pollack is harmless to humans.

Is the Alaska pollack edible?

Yes, the Alaska pollack is a highly prized food fish.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Alaskakoolvis sourced
English name
Alaska pollack verified
Scientific name
Gadus chalcogrammus
Family
Gadidae
Other names
Alaska pollock; Alaskan pollock; Pacific pollock; Walleye pollock verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
91.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Marbled inferred
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Three separate inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Max depth (m)
1280.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Schooling inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
levensduur_max_jaar
28.0 verified

For anglers

Edibility
Highly prized sourced
Fishing method
Gevangen met pelagische trawls; verwerkt tot surimi en visfilet (o.a. fishsticks). sourced
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Gadus

More from the family Gadidae

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