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Pollock

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Pollock is a name for two types of fish. These fish live in the North Atlantic ocean.

Pollachius pollachius NO
Pollachius pollachius NO

They belong to a group called the genus Pollachius. People use this name for many different marine fish. This group is important because people catch them for food. They are often called whitefish.

Pollachius virens 218207213 (cropped)
Pollachius virens 218207213 (cropped)

Each fish looks a little bit different. One type is called Pollachius pollachius. It has a dark brown back and a golden belly. This fish also has a crooked line on its side. It even has a strong underbite.

Pollachius pollachius NO
Pollachius pollachius NO

The other type is Pollachius virens. This fish has a silvery lateral line on its side. A lateral line is a line that runs down the side of a fish. Its back is greenish black and its belly is white.

Scientists first named these species a long time ago. Linnaeus named both types in the year 1758.

Global total production pollock
Global total production pollock

The name Pollachius virens is also known as saithe or coley. Some people call it coalfish too. In Great Britain, people might call it Boston blue. This fish can grow to be quite large. The saithe can weigh up to 15 kilograms. The other kind can weigh up to 10 kilograms.

People eat pollock in many different ways around the world.

Global total production pollock
Global total production pollock

In Norway, people make fried fish balls with it. In Shetland, they might fry small fish with oatmeal. In Orkney, people split and salt the fish. They dry them over a peat hearth. This makes the fish feel like wood. In Germany, people salt and smoke the coalfish. This makes the fish look orange like salmon.

Pollock is a very common fish in supermarkets today. You might find it as fresh fillets in the store. It is often used to make fish fingers. It is also an ingredient in imitation crab meat. Many people choose pollock because it is a low-mercury fish. This means it has a small amount of mercury. A woman weighing 70 kilograms can eat 170 grams per week. A child weighing 25 kilograms can eat 50 grams per week.

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🖼️ Images & Media (3)
File:Pollachius pollachius NO.JPG
Pollachius pollachius NO.JPG
File:Pollachius virens 218207213 (cropped).jpg
Pollachius virens 218207213 (cropped).jpg
File:Global total production pollock.png
Global total production pollock.png
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