Atlantic Pollock

Common Name:

Atlantic Pollock

Scientific Name:

Pollachius virens

Market Name(s):

Saithe, Green cod, Boston bluefish

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Sourcing Summary

3-6 lbs.

Atlantic pollock is a member of the cod family but distinguished from cod by its greenish hue, paler belly, and brownish green back. Atlantic pollock are larger, slightly darker flesh, and have higher oil content than Alaskan pollock, which is actually a different species. Atlantic pollock is low in saturated fat and is an excellent source of protein, vitamin B12, phosphorus, and selenium. The flesh is firm and white, and has a sweet, delicate flavor. It is sold whole, in fillets, and steaks that are fresh, frozen, or smoked. 

Harvest Methods

Wild

Longline
Gillnet
Trawl

Product Forms

Fresh

  • Fillets
  • Whole

Frozen

  • Fillet
  • Whole
Fresh Seasonal Availability
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Culinary Composition

Flavor

Mild
Sweet
Strong

Texture

Delicate
Medium
Firm

Oil

Low
Medium
High

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition facts

Serving size: 100 Grams
Amount per serving
  • Calories
    92.00
  • Total Fat
    1.00
    g
  • Cholesterol
    71.00
    mg
  • Sodium
    86.00
    mg
  • Carbohydrates
    0.00
    g
  • Protein
    19.00
    g

Recommended Servings per Month

  • Men
    4+
  • Women
    4+
  • Kids 6-12
    4+
  • Kids 0-5
    4+

Cooking Methods

Advisory Concern

Biology

Atlantic pollock are a member of the cod family, distinguishable by their greenish hue and darker flesh, and a small chin barbell similar to that of a catfish. Atlantic pollock grow quickly until they reach sexual maturity, which is typically between ages three and six. They live up to 23-years-old, growing more than three feet in length and weighing up to 35 pounds.

Atlantic pollock spawn on hard, stony, or rocky seafloor areas from November through February, spawning multiple times during one season. Once released and fertilized, the eggs rise into the water column to hatch. Adult Atlantic pollock have a closed swim bladder, which they naturally fill with gas to maintain buoyancy.

Smaller Atlantic pollock feed on small crustaceans and fish, while larger populations feed mainly on fish. They are visual hunters, foraging primarily in daylight. Atlantic pollock are prey to a variety of fish, including: spiny dogfish, monkfish, and other pollock.

Species Habitat

Atlantic pollock are found throughout the coastal and continental shelf region of the North Atlantic. In the Northwest Atlantic, pollock range from Greenland to North Carolina in both inshore and offshore areas. Atlantic pollock swim in schools and are believed to travel extensively between the Scotian Shelf and Georges Bank and to a lesser extent, between the Scotian Shelf and Gulf of Maine. They are found at temperatures ranging from 0° to 10°C (32° to 50 ̊F) and depths to 400 meters. Pollock eggs and larvae are found in the water column, while juveniles inhabit inshore waters, moving offshore as they grow older and larger. When inshore, juveniles school in the open water at low tide, and then scatter and hide in intertidal seaweed beds during high tide. Adults live offshore and live in the water column although they can also be found near the ocean floor usually near sand, mud, rocks, and vegetation.

Science & Management:
  • Wild
    Science: 

    The Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC), as well as other independent and academic organizations, conduct regional research monitoring fish populations, testing gear, and conducting tagging experiments.

    The most recent stock assessment suggests that research on Atlantic pollock is necessary in certain areas, including:

    • Gear information for selectivity and avoidance behavior
    • A better understanding of stock identification
    • Using additional scientific surveys, or alternative survey approaches, for future stock assessments
    • Determining the age of fish
    • Determining the magnitude of historical discards
    • Assessing the mortality of discards by fishing gear type
    • Using party/charter logbooks for determining the age of fish caught in recreational fisheries

    A bio-economic model “FishRent” has been developed to evaluate and forecast the impacts of management efforts. It integrates the economics of multiple fleets, impact of fishing on stock development, and the interplay of space and time between fleets and fish stocks to study the biological and economic effects of current operations.

    Management: 

    NOAA Fisheries and the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) manage the US Atlantic pollock fishery. Atlantic pollock have been managed under the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan since 1986. This collective plan covers 20 stocks from 13 different species. Grouping these species together allows the NEFMC to manage these mixed fisheries more effectively than if individually managed. Once decimated by overfishing in the 1980s and in the early 1990s, measures under the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan have allowed populations to rebound from overfishing. These measures include:

    • Permitting requirements
    • Time and area closures to limit fishing pressure and protect spawning pollock and habitat
    • Annual catch limits of all groundfish that can be caught 
    • Minimum catch sizes 

    The Plan also establishes an optional catch share program for pollock and other New England groundfish. This program allows fishing vessels to fish together in sectors and allows fishers more control over when, where, and how they decide to fish as well as the ability to specifically target stocks that are not overfished. The catch share program exempts these sectors from many gear and area restrictions otherwise restricted to fishers outside the program. However, those sectors must stop fishing once their sector catches their predetermined allotment of fish. Fishers not in a sector or involved in the catch share must fish under regulations that limit the amount of groundfish they can catch, where they can fish, as well as the number of days they can fish. 

    New England fishers must also follow a number of management measures to reduce bycatch in the groundfish fishery including the Harbor Porpoise and Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plans. These plans restrict where, when, and how gear can be set. In addition, these plans require the use of acoustic deterrent devices called “pingers” to prevent marine mammal entanglement in nets.

    There is a small recreational fishery for US Atlantic pollock and there are no regulations governing the amount that can be caught by recreational vessels – though anglers must adhere to minimum catch size requirements. Regulations allow for an allocation of the yearly pollock quota to the recreational fishery if the recreational catch in federal waters exceeds five percent of the overall catch. 

    Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) is responsible for managing pollock stocks in Canadian waters. DFO manages fisheries through the implementation of Integrated Fisheries Management Plans (IFMP). Drafted by the DFO in collaboration with stakeholders, IFMPs set total allowable catch limits for pollock caught in Canadian waters.

Wild

Impact on Stock

Atlantic pollock matures quickly and has high reproduction rates, which are characteristics that make its inherent vulnerability to fishing pressure low.

Although the Canadian pollock fishery was historically overfished, it is currently recovering. In the United States, the Atlantic pollock fishery is rather small but considered healthy. Norwegian pollock stocks are also stable and healthy. In Iceland, overfishing is occurring and the Atlantic pollock stock status is poor, according to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. 

Habitat Impacts

The gear used to catch Atlantic pollock varies by region, but consists primarily of bottom trawls, bottom gillnets and Danish seines. Bottom trawls and Danish seines can heavily impact the seafloor and damage ocean habitat while the purse seines that are predominant in the small Norwegian fishery have little contact with the seafloor.

Bycatch

Bycatch levels in the Canadian, Norwegian, and Iceland pollock fisheries remain unknown, although the risk is considered to be moderate based on the gear used, according to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Bottom gillnets risk ensnaring marine animals, and have been a high concern in both the U.S. and Canada due to documented incidents where protected species were caught. In addition, lost gillnets in the eastern Atlantic have entangled non-targeted fish long after they’ve been abandoned.

Management Effectiveness

Management measures in the U.S. as well as the North Sea or Northeast Arctic regions of Norway are considered highly effective. They include area closures, size limits, gear restrictions, dockside monitoring, logbook reporting, catch quotas, and observer coverage. In Iceland and Canada, extensive management measures are in place but total allowable catch levels have still been set higher than scientific recommendations. Management effectiveness in these countries continues to be a moderate concern.

Farmed
Origin Harvest Method Sustainability Ratings FIP Source
Arctic Ocean - Northeast Bottom Trawls
Seafood Watch- Unrated
Ocean Wise- Unrated
Good Fish Guide- Rating 3 Think
Arctic Ocean - Northeast Gillnet
Seafood Watch- Unrated
Ocean Wise- Unrated
Good Fish Guide- Rating 2 Best Choice
Arctic Ocean - Northeast Purse Seine
Seafood Watch- Unrated
Ocean Wise- Unrated
Good Fish Guide- Rating 1 Best Choice
Canada Bottom Trawls
Seafood Watch- Avoid
Ocean Wise- Not Recommended
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
Canada Gillnet
Seafood Watch- Good Alternative
Ocean Wise- Not Recommended
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
Canada - Atlantic Bottom Longline
Seafood Watch- Good Alternative
Ocean Wise- Not Recommended
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
Denmark - North Sea (MSC) Bottom Trawls
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Not Recommended
Good Fish Guide- Rating 3 Think
Denmark - North Sea (MSC) Gillnet
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Not Recommended
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
Denmark - Skagerrak Strait (MSC) Bottom Trawls
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Not Recommended
Good Fish Guide- Rating 2 Best Choice
Denmark - Skagerrak Strait (MSC) Gillnet
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Not Recommended
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
Faroe Islands Pelagic Trawl
Seafood Watch- Unrated
Ocean Wise- Unrated
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
Faroe Islands (MSC) Bottom Trawls
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Not Recommended
Good Fish Guide- Rating 2 Best Choice
Faroe Islands (MSC) Jig
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Recommended
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
Faroe Islands (MSC) Longline
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Recommended
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
Faroe Islands (MSC) Pelagic Trawl
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Recommended
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
France (MSC) Bottom Trawls
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Not Recommended
Good Fish Guide- Rating 4 Think
Germany - North Sea (MSC) Bottom Trawls
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Recommended
Good Fish Guide- Rating 3 Think
Greenland - Barents Sea (MSC) Bottom Trawls
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Recommended
Good Fish Guide- Rating 3 Think
Iceland (MSC) Longline
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Not Recommended
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
Iceland (MSC) Nephrops Trawl
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Recommended
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
Iceland (MSC) Bottom Trawls
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Recommended
Good Fish Guide- Rating 1 Best Choice
Iceland (MSC) Danish Seine
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Recommended
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
Iceland (MSC) Gillnet
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Not Recommended
Good Fish Guide- Rating 1 Best Choice
Iceland (MSC) Handline
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Recommended
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
Ireland (FIP) Bottom Gillnet
Seafood Watch- Unrated
Ocean Wise- Unrated
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
Fishery Improvement Project (FIP)
FIP product
Ireland (FIP) Bottom Trawls
Seafood Watch- Unrated
Ocean Wise- Unrated
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
Fishery Improvement Project (FIP)
FIP product
North Sea (MSC) Danish Seine
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Recommended
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
North Sea (MSC) Pair Seine
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Recommended
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
North Sea (MSC) Bottom Trawls
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Recommended
Good Fish Guide- Rating 3 Think
North Sea (MSC) Pair Trawl
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Recommended
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
North Sea, West of Scotland and Rockall, Kattegat and Skagerrak Bottom Trawls
Seafood Watch- Unrated
Ocean Wise- Unrated
Good Fish Guide- Rating 2 Best Choice
Northeast Arctic - Barents and Norwegian Sea (MSC) Bottom Trawls
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Recommended
Good Fish Guide- Rating 3 Think
Norway - Barents Sea (MSC) Bottom Trawls
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Recommended
Good Fish Guide- Rating 3 Think
Norway - North Sea (MSC) Bottom Trawls
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Recommended
Good Fish Guide- Rating 3 Think
Norway - North Sea (MSC) Danish Seine
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Recommended
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
Norway - North Sea (MSC) Jig
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Recommended
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
Norway - North Sea (MSC) Longline
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Recommended
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
Norway - North Sea (MSC) Purse Seine
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Recommended
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
Norway - North Sea (MSC) Gillnet
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Recommended
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
Norway - North Sea (MSC) Pot/Trap
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Recommended
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
Norway - Norwegian Sea (MSC) Gillnet
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Recommended
Good Fish Guide- Rating 2 Best Choice
Norway - Norwegian Sea (MSC) Bottom Trawls
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Recommended
Good Fish Guide- Rating 3 Think
Norway - Norwegian Sea (MSC) Hook and Line
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Recommended
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
Norway - Norwegian Sea (MSC) Purse Seine
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Recommended
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
Norway - Norwegian Sea (MSC) Danish Seine
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Recommended
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
Russia - Barents Sea (MSC) Bottom Trawls
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Not Recommended
Good Fish Guide- Rating 3 Think
Russia - Sea of Okhotsk (MSC) Midwater Trawl
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Recommended
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
Unassessed Origin Unassessed Fishing Methods
Seafood Watch- Unrated
Ocean Wise- Unrated
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
United Kingdom - Scotland (MSC) Bottom Trawls
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Recommended
Good Fish Guide- Rating 2 Best Choice
USA - Georges Bank Bottom Trawls
Seafood Watch- Good Alternative
Ocean Wise- Not Recommended
NOAA FSSI- 4 out of 4
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
USA - Georges Bank Set Gillnets
Seafood Watch- Avoid
Ocean Wise- Not Recommended
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
NOAA FSSI- 4 out of 4
USA - Georges Bank Handlines and Hand-Operated Pole-and-Lines
Seafood Watch- Good Alternative
Ocean Wise- Not Recommended
NOAA FSSI- 4 out of 4
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
USA - Gulf of Maine Bottom Trawls
Seafood Watch- Good Alternative
Ocean Wise- Not Recommended
NOAA FSSI- 4 out of 4
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
USA - Gulf of Maine Set Gillnets
Seafood Watch- Avoid
Ocean Wise- Not Recommended
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
NOAA FSSI- 4 out of 4
USA - Gulf of Maine Handlines and Hand-Operated Pole-and-Lines
Seafood Watch- Good Alternative
Ocean Wise- Not Recommended
NOAA FSSI- 4 out of 4
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
USA - Gulf of Maine & Georges Bank (MSC) Otter Trawl
Seafood Watch- Eco-Certification Recognized
Ocean Wise- Recommended
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
USA - New England (FIP) Trawl
Seafood Watch- Good Alternative
Ocean Wise- Not Recommended
NOAA FSSI- 4 out of 4
Fishery Improvement Project (FIP)
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
FIP product
Name Country State/Province
Airson Seafood Iceland
Beyond the Sea Sales and Marketing, Inc. United States Massachusetts
Catanese Classic Seafood United States Ohio
Euclid Fish Company United States Ohio
FaroeLandia Ltd. Denmark
Foley Fish United States Massachusetts
Ice-co Foods Iceland
Intercity Packers Meat & Seafood Canada British Columbia
John Nagle Co. United States Massachusetts
Maine Shellfish Company United States Maine
New Hampshire Community Seafood United States New Hampshire
Nordic Catch United States California
North Atlantic, Inc. United States Maine
Northeast Oceans United States Massachusetts
O'Neil Fisheries Limited Canada Nova Scotia
Pacific Harvest Seafoods United States California
Raw Seafoods United States Massachusetts
Red's Best United States Massachusetts
Royal Hawaiian Seafood United States California
Salties Imports Canada Alberta
Samuels & Son Seafood Company, Inc. United States Pennsylvania
Scottish Seas United Kingdom
Sea Born Products, Inc. United States Massachusetts
Sea to Table, USA United States New York
Southstream Seafoods, Inc. United States Rhode Island
The Lobster Place Wholesale Seafood United States New York
Tradex Foods Inc. Canada British Columbia
True Fin United States Maine
Visscher Seafood B.V. Netherlands
Walden Local, Inc. United States Massachusetts

Acknowledgements

  • Environmental Defense Fund
  • NOAA Fisheries
  • Seafood Watch Program
  • SeafoodSource
Last Updated: 8/7/2020