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Alaska pollock, Walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma)

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Common name - Alaska pollock, Walleye pollock
Scientific name - Theragra chalcogramma
Rating
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Caught at sea Pelagic trawl, Seine net
Capture Area North West Pacific  FAO 61
Stock Detail Western Bering Sea and Okhotsk Sea
Summary
The Russian pollock stocks in the western Bering Sea and Sea of Okhotsk management areas appear healthy, however the fisheries' specific data is unclear and lacks defined reference points. There is also a lack of data on fishing mortality, so it is difficult to tell whether the rate of removal is sustainable. The management has not changed significantly in post Soviet Russia, and the stock is managed with a system of TAC's and Rationalised Quotas on a regular basis. While the U.S. managed Alaska pollock fisheries in the eastern Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands and the Gulf of Alaska fisheries were certified to the MSC Standard in 2005 and are the best choice when eating Alaska pollock. The Russian pollock fisheries are not certified.
Biology
A member of the cod family, pollock is found throughout temperate and colder waters of the North Pacific and Bering Sea and is the most abundant fish species in those areas.Pollock is a relatively fast growing and short lived species and is sexually mature at around 3-4 years. Pollock have high fecundity or potential reproductive capacity - female pollock can produce more than two million eggs over the course of several weeks. It spawns in early spring from February to April and they can grow to about 90cm and attain ages of 15-17 years. A more typical age is 5-6. Found in depths down to 900m the species is also known as walleye pollock because of its large, distinctive eyes.
Stock Information
Pollock, including fisheries managed in Russian and U.S. waters, is both the largest food fish resource and largest whitefish fishery in the world. Together the Barents Sea cod fishery and the Russian Far East (Western Bering Sea and Sea of Okhotsk) pollock fishery account for between 20 and 25% of the global catch of whitefish. More than three million tons of Alaska pollock are caught each year in the north Pacific from Alaska to northern Japan. Pollock in Russia's sector of the Bering Sea seem to be healthy, however the data is inconsistent and catches have been declining significantly over the past decade. Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing is a concern in the western Bering Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk, where landings of illegal fish are thought to be high. IUU fisheries have serious consequences for Arctic ecosystems.
Capture Information
The western Bering Sea and Okhotsk Sea fishery is a trawl and seine fishery. Bycatch in general is thought to be low, as are impacts on the seabed. However, the effect of bycatch and cascade ecosystem impacts on Steller sea lions is unknown here. This is an issue that is being dealt with in the eastern Bering Sea fishery under U.S. management where the species is protected under the Endangered Species Act, however no assumption can be made in Russian waters due to lack of evidence and legal protections affored under U.S. law.
Alternatives
(Based on method of production, fish type, and consumer rating: only fish rated 3 and below are included.)
Read what the consumer pages of the Good Fish Guide say about this species.