Pollock

Pollock (Pollachius pollachius), also called Pollack, is a streamlined member of the cod family Gadidae found in the northeastern Atlantic from Norway south to the Iberian Peninsula and Mediterranean fringe. Unlike its close relative the Atlantic Cod, it lacks a chin barbel and has a more torpedo-shaped, faster-swimming body suited to a more active, midwater lifestyle around reefs and wrecks. It is a common and widely distributed species with no major conservation concern, though it is managed alongside other gadid stocks in regional fisheries. Pollock is frequently encountered by divers around rocky pinnacles and shipwrecks, often seen hovering in loose schools over structure.

Pollock is distinguished from Atlantic Cod and Haddock chiefly by jaw shape and fin coloration.

• Jaw: lower jaw protrudes noticeably beyond the upper jaw, and no barbel is present
• Lateral line: curves distinctly over the pectoral fin before running straight along the body
• Color: bronze-green to olive above, pale golden lateral line, silvery-white below
• Body: more streamlined and torpedo-shaped than cod, suited to faster swimming
• Size: typically 50-90 cm The absence of a chin barbel combined with the strongly curved lateral line and protruding jaw reliably separates Pollock from cod and haddock.

Pollock inhabit rocky reefs, kelp forests, wrecks, and offshore pinnacles throughout the northeastern Atlantic, from Norway and the British Isles south to Spain and Portugal, occasionally into the western Mediterranean. They are typically found from shallow nearshore water down to around 200 meters, with adults favoring deeper structure and juveniles often found in shallower coastal shelter. Pollock prefer cool temperate water and are strongly associated with hard, structurally complex habitat rather than open sand or mud, distinguishing their habitat preference from bottom-oriented relatives like Haddock. Larger adults often hold position in midwater currents near reef edges rather than resting on the seabed.

Pollock are active, fast-swimming predators that often form loose schools hovering in midwater currents near rocky reefs, pinnacles, and wrecks, a behavior that makes them a favorite sighting for divers. They feed on small schooling fish and crustaceans, chasing prey through open water rather than relying purely on bottom foraging like some cod-family relatives. Spawning occurs in winter in offshore deeper water, with pelagic eggs and larvae drifting before juveniles settle into shallower coastal nursery habitat. Pollock are also noted as a popular sport fish targeted around structure. Their strong swimming ability and reef association make them more mobile and midwater-oriented than the more bottom-hugging Atlantic Cod and Haddock.