Alaska pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) fish species and information / pictures of Alaska pollock - Theragra chalcogramma

Alaska pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) fish species information

Scientific Name
Theragra chalcogramma

Common Name
Alaska pollock

Biology
The adults usually live near to the sea floor, but sometimes they also appear near the surface (Ref. 1371). They perform diurnal vertical migrations (Ref. 1371). They mainly feed on krill (Ref. 39882) but they also eat fishes and crustaceans (Ref. 6885). The adults which are spawning are often solely captured for their roe. The meat is used to produce Surimi (this is an imitation of shellfish meat) (Ref. 28499). They are traded as fresh fish, boneless flesh, in frozen blocks or as Surimi. The fish is cooked in the microwave, steamed or fried in butter (Ref. 9988). The Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands (BS/AI), http://www.msc.org/html/content_1176.htm, and Gulf of Alaska (GOA), http://www.msc.org/html/content_492.htm, pollock fisheries of this species have been certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (http://www.msc.org/) as well-managed and sustainable.

Classification

Classified By

Pallas, 1814

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Cods (Gadiformes)

Family

Cods and haddocks (Gadidae)

Distribution

Region

North Pacific

Distribution

North Pacific: from Kivalina, Alaska, to the southern Sea of Japan and to Carmel, California, USA. The occurrence off the northern part of Baja California (Mexico), as reported from Quast and Hall, (1972) (Ref. 6876) is apparently erroneous.

Range

68°N - 34°N, 129°E - 120°W

Environment

Climate

Polar

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

1280 m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Marine; brackish; benthopelagic; non-migratory; depth range 0 - 1280 m (Ref. 50550)

Trophic Level

3.45 s.e. 0.49 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

91.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.7500 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: highly commercial

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (36 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Musick et al. 2000 (Ref. 36717))

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated