 Alaska Pollock are the members of the family Gadidae. They are the most abundant fish species in the Bering Sea, comprising 60% of the total biomass and the second-most abundant, comprising 20% of the biomass in the Gulf of Alaska. Fisheries scientists recognize four stocks of Pollock: Gulf of Alaska, eastern Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and Aleutian Basin.
Most adult Pollock are found in waters 70-300 meters (230-1,000 feet) deep. They spawn between late February and early May. Their diet changes at different life stages: the newly hatched larvae feed on plankton for 60 days, juveniles feed on invertebrate eggs and small planktonic crustaceans, and adults feed mainly on copepods, krill, and other fishes, mainly juvenile pollock. Pollock are an important food source for other fishes, marine mammals, and birds. |
