Saithe: A silver and green Atlantic fish known as coalfish or saithe.

Pollachius virens is a marine species in the cod family found across the northern Atlantic. It supports major commercial fisheries in Europe and North America, providing food for humans and pets while maintaining sustainable stock levels.

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Can grow up to 130 cm and weigh 32 kg.
Smoked version is called Seelachs in Germany.
Lives in the northern Atlantic Ocean.
Eats salmon feed from nearby fish farms.
Fisheries are certified as sustainable.

What it is

This fish belongs to the cod family and lives in the northern Atlantic Ocean. Adults display bright silver sides with a dark green back. They have equal upper and lower jaw lengths, unlike their relative the pollock which has a longer lower jaw. The lateral line runs straight rather than kinking over the fins. Young fish stay near rocky shores, while larger ones move into deeper water. They can reach one metre thirty centimetres long and weigh over thirty kilograms.

Where it lives

The species inhabits the northern parts of the Northern Atlantic Ocean. Key fishing grounds include the Barents Sea, areas around Iceland, the Faeroe Islands, the North Sea, and the Celtic Sea. Juveniles prefer shallow rocky environments close to shore. As they mature, they migrate outward into deeper oceanic waters. The population spans from Norway down to the Bay of Biscay.

How it lives

Adults typically live between sixteen and twenty years. They are iteroparous batch spawners with determinate fecundity. Saithe often gather near fish farms to eat salmon feed that leaks through net walls. Fishermen believe this diet affects quality, though tests show only minor differences in fillet texture. Taste preferences vary among consumers regarding farm-associated versus wild-caught specimens.

Breeding and life cycle

Sexual maturity occurs between four and nine years of age. Females release between five hundred thousand and nine million eggs depending on their size. Each egg measures approximately one to one point three millimetres in diameter. Spawning happens in batches throughout the reproductive season.

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 flesh is edible but less valuable than cod or haddock. It is smoked and salted to achieve an orange colour similar to salmon, sold in Germany as Seelachs. British catches are largely exported to France where it is popular. The dark fresh flesh led to past reputations of poor taste. It is also used for cat food and fish fingers alongside cod.

Status and threats

Stocks in the eastern and western Atlantic are assessed annually by scientific bodies. Harvesting is considered sustainable, with many fisheries certified by the Marine Stewardship Council. Landings fluctuate significantly, ranging from three hundred thousand to seven hundred thousand tonnes in the eastern Atlantic between 1980 and 2017. Western Atlantic catches remain much lower.

Questions people ask about Saithe

What is the difference between saithe and pollock?

In the US both are called pollock. In Britain, saithe is coalfish. Saithe has equal jaws and a straight lateral line. Pollock has a longer lower jaw and a kinked lateral line. Their flesh colours also differ significantly.

Is saithe good to eat?

Yes, it is edible and commercially valued. It is less expensive than cod. Smoked saithe resembles salmon in colour. Some consumers prefer wild-caught over farm-adjacent fish due to taste differences.

Where does saithe live?

They inhabit the northern Atlantic Ocean. Juveniles stay near rocky shores. Adults move to deeper waters. Major populations exist in the Barents Sea, around Iceland, and in the North Sea.

How big do saithe get?

Adults typically reach one metre thirty centimetres. They can weigh up to thirty-two kilograms. The world record catch was twenty-two point seven kilograms caught in Norway.

Good reading and sources

A ‘Brexit bonanza’ for UK fishing? That’s a fishy tale with an unhappy endingThe Guardian, Article

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Pollachius virens", 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.

Photo credits on this page

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