Pollock
This article is about the marine fish pollock, for other uses, see Jackson Pollock and Pollock (movie).
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Pollachius pollachius Pollachius virens |
Pollock is the common term for either of the two species in the Pollachius genus. Both P. pollachius and P. virens are commonly referred to as pollock. Other names for P. pollachius include the Atlantic pollock, European pollock, lieu jaune, and pollack, while P. virens is sometimes known as the coalfish or saithe. Both species can grow to 3'6" (approx. 90 cm) and can weigh up to 46 1/2 lbs (approx. 21 kg). This marine fish has a strongly-defined silvery lateral line running down the sides. Above the lateral line the color is a greenish black. The belly is white. It can be found in water up to 100 fathoms (approx. 183 m) deep over rocks, and anywhere in the water column. They have a range from North Carolina up to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Pollock are a "white fish". They are an important part of the New England and North Atlantic fisheries, though less so than cod and haddock. They spawn in late winter and early spring on Georges Bank, off the New England coast.
There are also members of the Theragra genus that are commonly referred to as pollocks. This includes the Alaska pollock or walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) and the Norwegian pollock (Theragra finnmarchica). While related (they are also members of the family Gadidae) to the above pollocks, they are not members of the Pollachius genus.