saltwater
Pollack
Pollachius pollachius
Elongated, streamlined body with a prominent, projecting lower jaw. Features three dorsal fins and two anal fins. The coloration is typically greenish-brown on the back, fading to golden-brown on the sides and a silvery-white belly. Scales are small and smooth.
- Habitat
- Found in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean, ranging from…
- Size & weight
- Typically ranges from 30 to 75 cm in length and 1 to 5 k…
- Diet
- Carnivorous, primarily feeding on smaller schooling fish…
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Physical characteristics
Elongated, streamlined body with a prominent, projecting lower jaw. Features three dorsal fins and two anal fins. The coloration is typically greenish-brown on the back, fading to golden-brown on the sides and a silvery-white belly. Scales are small and smooth.
Habitat & distribution
Found in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean, ranging from Norway and Iceland down to the Bay of Biscay and the Mediterranean. Inhabits rocky coastal areas, wrecks, and deep offshore reefs from the surface down to about 200 meters.
Behavior
Forms loose schools, particularly younger individuals, while larger adults tend to be more solitary. Active hunters that roam rocky structures and drop-offs.
Diet
Carnivorous, primarily feeding on smaller schooling fish such as sandeels, sprats, and herring, as well as crustaceans like crabs and prawns.
Reproduction
Spawns offshore during the winter and early spring months, releasing pelagic eggs that drift with ocean currents before settling into coastal nurseries as juveniles.
Ecological role
Acts as a mid-to-top level marine predator, helping to regulate populations of smaller fish and invertebrates in rocky reef ecosystems while serving as prey for larger marine predators.
Similar species
Coalfish (Pollachius virens), which can be distinguished by its straighter lateral line and a protruding lower jaw that is less pronounced than that of the pollack.
Identification tips
Look for the distinctively curved lateral line above the pectoral fin, the prominent projecting lower jaw, and the golden-bronze sheen along the flanks.
Interesting facts
Pollack are strong swimmers capable of rapid acceleration to ambush prey, and juveniles often inhabit very shallow rock pools and kelp beds before moving to deeper waters as they mature.