GULF OF MAINE RESEARCH INSTITUTE

350 Commercial Street, Portland, ME 04101

Tel: (207) 772-2321, Fax: (207) 772-6855

info@gmri.org • www.gmri.org

Fishery Information• Atlantic pollock, a member of the cod family, is a groundfish

species harvested throughout the Gulf of Maine region. Atlantic pollock is often confused with Pacific pollock, which is a separate species and considerably more abundant in marketplaces than Atlantic pollock.

• In the Gulf of Maine, Atlantic pollock is considered abundant, and harvesters rely on it as an important source of income. Because it is not as well known to consumers as other groundfish species, such as cod or flounder, pollock typically fetches a lower price. In 2010, fishermen were paid an average of $0.80/lb, but the value of the fishery has slowly increased in recent years.

Sustainability• Pollock was considered overfished in the 1980s, but has since

recovered after catch limits were implemented. The most recent assessment of pollock indicated that the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank stock is 115% above the sustainable biomass level.

• In the Gulf of Maine region, pollock is harvested with a variety of fishing techniques that include trawls, gillnets, and longlines. Because pollock is often harvested alongside other less abundant groundfish species, fishermen and researchers explore ways to improve the selectivity of gear types. One project’s preliminary results indicate that elevating gillnets in the water column can reduce catch of other species, without impacting the pollock catch.

Seasonality/Availability • Pollock, also referred to as saithe, particularly in European markets,

is harvested year-round in the Gulf of Maine, but tend to be the most prevalent in the fall and early winter.

PollockPollachius virens