Species learning profile

Alaska pollock

Gadus chalcogrammus

Alaska pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) is a saltwater fish associated with open ocean habitat in North Pacific. Huge schools support one of the world's largest fisheries.

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Haute merGadidae

At a glance

Eau
Eau salée
Habitat
Haute mer
Longueur maximale
91 cm
Répartition
North Pacific
Famille
Gadidae
Ordre
Gadiformes

Observe

How to identify Alaska pollock

  • Huge schools support one of the world's largest fisheries.
  • Guide context: open ocean habitat in North Pacific.
  • Reported maximum length: 91 cm — up to about the length of a guitar. Maximum is not the same as typical adult size.

Field note: color, size, and markings can change with age, sex, season, depth, and lighting. Use several traits together.

Place and pattern

Where it lives—and how it behaves

Habitat and range

This species is associated with open ocean habitat across North Pacific. With little fixed shelter, currents, temperature fronts, depth, and moving prey define its open-ocean world.

Behavior

Forms dense midwater schools

Food-web connections

What it eats and why it matters

Diet

Krill, fish, and crustaceans.

Ecological role

A foundational prey and predator in the North Pacific.

Remember

One fact worth keeping

Alaska pollock peut atteindre environ 91 cm et vit souvent près de Haute mer.

Think like a conservationist

A conservation lens

Wide-ranging ocean fish can cross many jurisdictions, so bycatch, harvest limits, and international cooperation matter.

This habitat lens is not a current population-status assessment. Status can differ among regions and change as new assessments are published; follow the reference links and local fisheries or wildlife agencies for current decisions.

Recall

Quick knowledge check

Which habitat is most closely associated with Alaska pollock in this guide?

Keep exploring

References and further reading

Fishdle summarizes stable identification and ecology concepts in plain language. Taxonomy and population knowledge continue to change, so use primary assessments and regional authorities for conservation or management decisions.

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