Saithe (Pollachius virens) fish species and information / pictures of Saithe - Pollachius virens

Saithe (Pollachius virens) fish species information

Scientific Name
Pollachius virens

Common Name
Saithe

Biology
An active, gregarious fish occurring inshore and offshore waters. Usually enters coastal waters in spring and returns to deeper waters in winter (Ref. 9988). Smaller fish in inshore waters feed on small crustaceans (copepods, amphipods, euphausiids) and small fish, while larger fish prey predominantly upon fishes. Spawn in batches (Ref. 51846). Utilized fresh, dried or salted, smoked, canned and frozen; eaten steamed, fried, broiled, boiled, microwaved and baked (Ref. 9988).

Classification

Classified By

Linnaeus, 1758

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Cods (Gadiformes)

Family

Cods and haddocks (Gadidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Atlantic

Distribution

Eastern Atlantic: Barents Sea, Spitsbergen to Bay of Biscay, around Iceland. Western Atlantic: southwest Greenland, Hudson Strait to North Carolina, although rare at the extremes of the range. Migrations for spawning are known to occur. Also long-distance north-south migrations for Europe and the US.

Range

77°N - 33°N, 76°W - 35°E

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

37 m

Depth To - meters

364 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 37 - 364 m (Ref. 5951)

Trophic Level

4.38 s.e. 0.77 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

130 cm

Common Length

60.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.7500 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: highly commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

High vulnerability (61 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (rm=0.55-0.87; K=0.07-0.17; tm=2-10; tmax=25; Fec=220,000)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated