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Species Directory

Atlantic Pollock

Overview Management Resources

Atlantic Pollock

Pollachius virens

Atlantic pollock
Also Known As
Saithe, Coalfish, Coley, Green cod, Boston bluefish

Quick Facts

Region
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Fish Watch. U.S. Seafood Facts Logo

About The Species

U.S. wild-caught Atlantic pollock is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.

Population Status Icon

Population Level

Above target population level.

Fishing Status Icon

Fishing Status

At recommended level.

Habitat Impacts Icon

Habitat Impacts

Area closures and gear restrictions protect habitat that are affected by some kinds of trawl gear.

Bycatch Icon

Bycatch

Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch.

Status

  • According to the 2019 stock assessment, Atlantic pollock is not overfished and is not subject to overfishing.

Appearance

  • Atlantic pollock are brownish-green on the back and slightly pale on the belly.
  • They have a small chin barbel, like the whiskers on a catfish.
  • They are a member of the cod family but can be distinguished by their greenish hue and darker flesh.

Biology

  • Atlantic pollock grow fast at first until they sexually mature between the ages of 3 and 6.
  • They grow to more than 3 ½ feet long and 35 pounds and can live a long time, up to 23 years.
  • Atlantic pollock spawn from November through February over hard, stony, or rocky ocean bottoms in areas throughout the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank.
  • They spawn multiple times per season.
  • Pollock eggs rise into the water column after they are released and fertilized.
  • Smaller pollock in inshore waters feed on small crustaceans and small fish. Larger pollock mainly prey on fish.
  • A variety of fish eat juvenile pollock. Spiny dogfish, monkfish, and other pollock prey on adults.

Where They Live

  • Atlantic pollock are found in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean and are most common on the western Scotian Shelf and in the Gulf of Maine.

Management

  • NOAA Fisheries and the New England Fishery Management Council manage the fishery.
  • Pollock, along with other groundfish in New England waters, are managed under the  Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan, which includes:
    • Permitting requirements for commercial vessels.
    • Separate management measures for recreational vessels.
    • Time/Area Closures to protect spawning fish and habitat.
    • Minimum fish sizes to prevent harvest of juvenile fish.
    • Annual catch limits, based on best available science.
    • An optional sector (catch share) program can be used for cod and other groundfish species. The sector program allows fishermen to form harvesting cooperatives and work together to decide when, where, and how they harvest fish.

Featured News

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New England/Mid-Atlantic
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Recreational Fishing Regulations

Commercial Fishing Regulations

Subsistence Fishing Regulations

Management Overview

Atlantic pollock is managed under the Northeast Multispecies (Groundfish) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) along with 12 other species of groundfish. Collectively, these 13 species are referred to as the Northeast multispecies complex. 

Learn more about the Northeast multispecies complex and its management


More Information

  • Northeast Multispecies Complex Group Species Page
  • Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan

Science Overview

Research & Data

Atlantic Red Drum Fishery Harvest or Possession Prohibition Area

This dataset depicts the boundaries of the Atlantic Red Drum Fishery…
PDF Metadata Shapefile
October 07, 2019 - Map ,
New England/Mid-Atlantic
This is the chart for the Atlantic Red Drum Fishery Harvest or Possession Prohibition Area.
View More

Documents

Document

Age Determination Methods for Northwest Atlantic Species

This manual documents age determination techniques used by staff at the Woods Hole Laboratory to…

New England/Mid-Atlantic
More Documents

Data & Maps

Map

Atlantic Red Drum Fishery Harvest or Possession Prohibition Area

New England/Mid-Atlantic
More Data and Maps
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