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EveryFish
Pollachius pollachius

Pollack

A marine fish found in the north-east Atlantic.

Photo: This illustration was made by Citron You must credit this : Citron / C, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Pollack is a marine species in the gadid family, common in the north-east Atlantic. It supports commercial and recreational fisheries across Europe, with adults reaching up to 130 cm in length.

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  • Adults grow up to 130 cm long
  • Common in the North Sea and Bay of Biscay
  • Important target for recreational fishers
  • Maximum recorded age is 15 years

What it is

Pollack is a marine fish belonging to the Gadidae family. It is known as European pollock in American English and goes by names such as lythe or callig in the Isle of Man. Adults can reach lengths of 130 cm and weigh up to 12.5 kg, though 75 cm is more typical. These fish live near the sea floor in the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean.

Where it lives

This species is common in the north-eastern parts of the Northern Atlantic. Its distribution includes the Bay of Biscay and the North Sea. Landings data indicate three main centres: the northern North Sea and Skagerrak extending along Norway, the area between the English Channel and Irish Sea, and Iberian waters.

How it lives

Pollack are fast-growing and relatively short-lived, with a maximum reported age of 15 years. They are benthopelagic, meaning they inhabit waters near the sea bottom. The fish appear to be fairly sedentary in their habits rather than highly migratory across vast distances.

Breeding and life cycle

Spawning takes place offshore, although the exact grounds are not well understood. Some research on populations in Norwegian fjords suggests that local spawning may occur in these sheltered areas. Details on egg development and juvenile growth remain limited in available records.

Pollack
A drawing made by EveryFish from what this page says. It is a diagram, not a picture of the real fish.

Fish and people

The species holds value for fisheries but often appears as bycatch. Total landings amount to a few thousand tonnes. It is also significant for recreational angling. In 2009, tourist fishers in Norway caught an estimated 100 tonnes, while French recreational fisheries landed around 3,500 tonnes.

pollock
pollock. Photo: Tino Strauss, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Questions people ask about Pollack

What is the difference between pollack and pollock?

FAO uses the name pollack for this species, while American English refers to it as European pollock. It is distinct from other pollock species found in different regions.

How large do pollack get?

Adults can grow up to 130 cm in length and weigh 12.5 kg. However, a more common maximum size observed is around 75 cm.

Where are pollack found?

They are common in the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean, including the Bay of Biscay, the North Sea, and along the coasts of Norway and France.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Pollachius pollachius", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.

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Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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