Pollock or pollack (pronounced ) is the common name used for either of the two species of North Atlantic ocean, marine fish in the genus ''Pollachius''. ''Pollachius pollachius'' is referred to as pollock in North America, Ireland and the United Kingdom, while ''Pollachius virens'' is usually known as saithe or coley in Great Britain and Ireland (derived from the older name coalfish). Other names for ''P. pollachius'' include the Atlantic pollock, European pollock, ''lieu jaune'', and lythe; while ''P. virens'' is also known as Boston blue (distinct from bluefish), silver bill, or saithe.

Species

The recognized species in this genus are: * ''Pollachius pollachius'' (Carl Linnaeus, Linnaeus, 1758) (pollack) * ''Pollachius virens'' (Linnaeus, 1758) (coalfish)

Description

Both species can grow to and can weigh up to . ''P. virens'' has a strongly defined, silvery lateral line running down the sides. Above the lateral line, the colour is a greenish black. The belly is white, while ''P. pollachius'' has a distinctly crooked lateral line, grayish to golden belly, and a dark brown back. ''P. pollachius'' also has a strong underbite. It can be found in water up to deep over rocks and anywhere in the water column. Pollock is a whitefish (fisheries term), whitefish.

As food

Time series for global capture of all pollock

Atlantic pollock is largely considered to be a Whitefish (fisheries term), whitefish. Traditionally a popular source of food in some countries, such as Norway, in the United Kingdom it has previously been largely consumed as a cheaper and versatile alternative to Cod as food, cod and haddock. However, in recent years, pollock has become more popular due to overfishing of cod and haddock. It can now be found in most supermarkets as fresh fillets or prepared freezer items. For example, it is used minced in Fishstick, fish fingers or as an ingredient in Crab stick, imitation crab meat and is commonly used to make fish and chips. In 2009, UK supermarket Sainsbury's briefly renamed Atlantic pollock "colin" in a bid to boost ecofriendly sales of the fish as an alternative to cod. Sainsbury's, which said the new name was derived from the French for cooked pollock (:fr:Colin (poisson), ''colin''), launched the product under the banner "Colin and chips can save British cod." Pollock is regarded as a "low-Mercury (element), mercury fish" – a woman weighing can safely eat up to per week, and a child weighing can safely eat up to .

Other fish called pollock

One member of the genus ''Gadus'' is also commonly referred to as pollock: the Alaska pollock or walleye pollock (''Gadus chalcogrammus''), including the form known as the Norway pollock. They are also members of the family (biology), family Gadidae but not members of the genus ''Pollachius''.

References

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