Introduction | Alaska Salmon | Alaska Halibut | Alaska Pollock & Cod

Alaska pollock and Pacific cod are both members of the cod family (Gadidae) of fishes, and are related to Atlantic cod. Pacific cod are also called gray cod or true cod. Both pollock and cod are demersal fish, because they spend most of their lives close to the ocean floor. Unlike salmon, these species are rarely caught close to shore. Instead, they are typically found in deep water several miles from shore. Pollock and cod are known for their high fecundity, which means the females produce large numbers of eggs. Both species spawn many times during their life cycles. These attributes enable both species to withstand natural fluctuations in ocean conditions and to recover from environmental changes.

Pollock are harvested almost exclusively with pelagic trawls — bag-shaped nets that are towed through the water. Pelagic trawls do not contact the ocean bottom. Midwater fishing with pelagic trawls is a relatively selective method of fishing because the trawls can be operated in ways to minimize the incidental catch of non-target species.

Large areas of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands have been closed to trawling to protect crab species. Other areas around rookeries and haulouts have been closed to protect sea lions. While the Bering Sea is not completely closed to fishing, these refuge areas do allow fish to avoid capture thus helping to ensure the sustainability of the marine ecosystem. Alaska’s fish are not just for human consumption, they are integral parts of the marine food web. Except for a relatively small fishery for herring roe, there are no harvests for forage fishes such as capelin or sandlance; Alaska’s harvesters are not “fishing down the food chain”. Rather, harvests are balanced with the needs of the ecosystem.

Most vessels fishing for pollock and cod are required by U.S. federal law to carry independent scientific observers on board. These observers record the location, amount, species composition, and other data about the catches, and they report the data to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), which enforces federal fisheries regulations.

NMFS also performs biological studies of pollock and cod populations, as well as those of many other species. Based on these studies, NMFS and university scientists estimate the amount of fish that might be available to be harvested in the coming year. Harvest decisions are made by the NPFMC. In over two decades the policy-making NPFMC has never overturned a scientifically based catch recommended by its scientists. In fact, in some cases the NPFMC has imposed some of its own additional safeguards. This style of fisheries management has worked very well for over 20 years. The Council continues to work in a mode of conservative management. The Alaskan approach is precautionary and risk-averse, and the proof is in the long-term health of the resource.