Alaska pollack

The Alaska Pollock is a saltwater fish belonging to the family Gadidae and is described scientifically as <em>Gadus chalcogrammus</em>. This species reaches a maximum recorded length of approximately 91 cm and a maximum weight of around 3.85 kg, with individuals documented at depths extending to approximately 1,280 metres. Alaska Pollock is one of the most commercially abundant fish species in the world, supporting one of the largest single-species fisheries on the planet in the Bering Sea and North Pacific. It is a schooling, semi-pelagic gadid that inhabits the water column from near the surface down to depth, associating with the seafloor during portions of its life cycle. <em>Gadus chalcogrammus</em> feeds on zooplankton, euphausiids, small fish, and squid, and is itself a critical prey species for marine mammals, seabirds, and larger fish within subarctic Pacific food webs. The species is the primary source of the mild-flavored white fish used in processed seafood products such as fish sticks, fish sandwiches, and surimi-based items. Its roe, or eggs, are also harvested for export, particularly to Asian markets. Details of habitat and range for this species remain limited in the ichthyological literature beyond its well-documented dominance in subarctic North Pacific and Bering Sea ecosystems.