Fun Pollock Facts For Kids

Pollock, pollock fish, or pollack is the name given to the two species in the genus Pollachius. These two species are found in the North Atlantic region. The species Pollachius pollachius is called the pollock fish in North America and the UK. The other species, Pollachius virens, is known as coley in the British Isles. Pollack is also known as Atlantic pollock, European pollock, lieu jaune, and lythe. There is also a member of the genus Gadus called the Alaska pollock or walleye pollock. Though they are part of the same family as the Atlantic pollocks, the genera are different.

The Atlantic pollack is known to feed on anything from small fishes and sandeels to worms and crustaceans on the seabed. This species is a cheaper and more sustainable alternative to whitefish. Pollock's meat is widely used in place of declining species like cod and haddock. Their meat is said to be a mild flavor compared to most fish and is mostly found in the form of fillets. It is also made to be imitation crab meat. Pollack is known to be cold-water fish found in the northern oceans of the world.

The Alaskan pollock is one of the most important species in the commercial market. This species is caught in the Bering sea and the Gulf of Alaska. These are distantly related to the Atlantic pollock.

For more relatable content, check out these salmon facts and eel facts.

What type of animal is a pollock?

Pollock is a species of fish caught all over the world for its meat.

What class of animal does a pollock belong to?

Pollock belongs to the class of Actinopterygii in the kingdom of Animalia. There are two species of pollock fishes from the genus Pollachius and one from the genus Gadus.

How many pollocks are there in the world?

The population of the species is not known. They are known to be found in abundance all over the world though. They are quite famous and the species from Alaska is the most commercially viable fish species in the market.

Where does a pollock live?

The species from the genus Pollachius is found in the North Atlantic ocean. They are found on the Atlantic coast. Alaska pollock is found in the northern Pacific ocean and is regarded as one of the top five seafood species of the U.S. All the pollock fishes are wild-caught.

What is a pollock's habitat?

As they are found in northern oceans across the world, this fish prefers marine habitats. They often scourge the seabeds to feed. They are non-migratory and only move into deeper waters during the wintertime. They also spawn during these cold months.

Who do pollock live with?

They are a schooling species and are found in groups.

How long does a pollock live?

The lifespan of the Alaska pollock is quite short with just 12 years of lifespan.

However, the Atlantic pollock is known to live for about 25 years.

How do they reproduce?

The Atlantic pollock spawn in cool waters. In Canada, spawning occurs from September to April. However, the peak time of spawning is from December to February. The fish species are known to spawn over stone or rocky bottoms. After the eggs are fertilized, the eggs rise up in the water column. The young are known to live inshore sub-tidal and intertidal zones for almost a year. After two years, the juveniles are known to move to deeper waters. Adults move further offshore living in deeper waters. Atlantic pollock reaches sexual maturity at four to seven years old.

As the Alaska pollock has a short lifespan, the breeding is quite productive in the species and they start reproducing in three to four years. The breeding technique is similar to the Atlantic pollock as the latter moves to shallow water in the spring season to feed and breed. In winter, the fish moves back to warmer areas. Juveniles are known to feed on smaller fishes and zooplankton.

What is their conservation status?

The conservation status of the Atlantic pollock is categorized as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. There is no danger to the species currently.

Due to the overfishing of cod and haddock fishes, the pollock fish is now used all over the world as a cheaper and more versatile alternative to them.

What do pollock look like?

The Atlantic pollock has a pointed snout, a projecting lower jaw, and a forked tail. Their back is brownish-gray in color. This color is seen fading to yellow-gray and then to silver-gray on the belly. The species is known to have a small barbell that extends from the chin of the fish to the whiskers. The body is elongated and slender. The fish has big eyes and three dorsal fins.

The Alaska pollock has a stronger underbite. The fish has a silvery lateral line. Below this line, it has a  greenish-black hue coloration. The chin barbel is similar and is used to find prey. The adults have brownish-gray on top and greenish coloration at the bottom.

How cute are they?

Fishes are considered quite cute by many people, and these fish are no different.

How do they communicate?

Fishes communicate chemically and by visual cues.

How big is a pollock?

The Atlantic pollock is up to 41.33 in (105 cm) long. The length of the Alaska pollock is around 12-20 in (30.48-50.8 cm). However, they can grow up to 36 in (91.4 cm).

The whale shark is the largest marine fish in the world. The length of this fish is around 217-393 in (5.5-10 m).

How fast can a pollock swim?

Their speed is not known.

How much does a pollock weigh?

The weight of the pollock from the Atlantic ocean is around 46 lb (20.8 kg).

What are the male and female names of the species?

Males and females are not given different names.

What would you call a baby pollock?

Babies are called juveniles or young.

What do they eat?

Pollocks mainly feed on smaller fish, squids, and planktonic crustaceans.

Many species of sea lions, marine mammals, fish, and seabirds feed on pollock fish in the marine wild. Steller sea lions are known to feed on Alaska pollock.

Are they dangerous?

They are not dangerous.

Would they make a good pet?

They are not considered pets. They are mostly used for consumption.

Did you know...

Pollock meat is often minced in fish fingers. Pollock meat is also shaped and cured to resemble the meat in the legs of some crab species. It is also used to make fish and chips, famous in the UK.

Pollock is used for eating in many restaurants and fast-food chains. The meat is full of protein and low in fats. It helps in regulating sugar levels, maintain weight, eye health, and improve the health of the heart. The meat has a mild, delicate taste. It is with white flesh, coarse texture, and low oil content.

Is pollock a real fish?

Pollock is a real fish that is used for consumption in place of cod and haddock. They are wild-caught.

Is pollock the same as cod?

They are not the same however are quite similar to cod. The pollock fishes are used as a cheaper alternative to cod in many recipes around the world.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these anchovies facts and nurse shark facts for kids.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable angler pollock fish coloring pages.