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Alaska Pollock

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/Keurmerk Wild
Green
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Avoid
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General

Cod-like fish

Cod-like fishes belong to the Gadidae family. This includes the Atlantic and Pacific cod, pouting, haddock, whiting, European pollock, Alaska pollock and saithe. They live near the seabed in coastal waters and in deeper waters. During the day, they aggregate in schools. At night, they separate to forage independently. Gadidae are omnivorous fish that feed on worms, molluscs, bivalves, crustaceans and small fish. They migrate over large distances to spawn and to hunt on large schools of herring and smelt.

 

 

Alaska Pollock

Alaska pollock is the most eaten species of pollock in the Netherlands. It can be found in Arctic regions in depths of up to 1300 metres. They submerge from these deeper waters when they want to eat. Alaska pollock belongs to the family of the codfish. It can reach a length of 91 cm and a weight of 1.4 kg.

Alaska Pollock

Theragra chalcogramma
Origin

Pacific Ocean, north-east (FAO 67)
Deelgebieden: Pacific Ocean, north-east

Farming- / Catch method

Midwater otter trawl, Bottom trawls

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Explanation assessment

 

The Alaska pollock fishery in the eastern Bering Sea, along the Aleutian Islands and in the Gulf of Alaska has got MSC-certifiedMSC Certified:
Fisheries that comply with the Marine Stewardship Council assessment criteria and are certified. Fish products with the blue MSC label are caught by sustainable fisheries.
in 2005. This fishery mainly uses midwaterMidwater otter trawls:
A fishing technique whereby conical nets are dragged through the water column and are kept open by large square 'otter planks'.  
otter trawls. These are trawl nets that are towed through the water column and therefore have no impact on the seabed.

Since 2013, the Russian Alaska pollock fishery in the Sea of Okhotsk  also received MSC certification.

Fish in season 

Fish is in season when the spawning period has ended, as the quality is then at its best.

Alaska Pollock

Theragra chalcogramma
Origin

Pacific Ocean, north-west (FAO 61)

Farming- / Catch method

Danish seine

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Fish stocks and fishing pressure
Ecosystem effects
Fishery management
Final assessment
Explanation assessment

Alaska pollock is a species that is often used to make kibbeling and fish sticks. This species is currently not being overfishedOverfished:
A stock is overfished when the stock size has decreased so far that it can no longer produce a maximum sustainable yield. The size of the fish populations is insufficient to reproduce in the long term. 
and for that reason, it receives a green score for the category fish stocks and fishing pressure.

The ecological impact of the catch method (i.e.,) danish seines can momentarily not be evaluated due to the lack of bycatchBycatch:
Species caught next to species targeted for fishery. By-catches can consist of non-commercial species and species that are too small, and can be kept (this part is sometimes called by-product) or thrown back into the sea (discards). 
information. Therefore, the ecosystem impact of this fishing method cannot be determined. This fishery receives a red score on the category ecosystem effects

This fishery is managed by the European Common Fisheries Policy. The overall management is seen as partially effective for this fishery. For that reason, the category fishery management receives an orange score.

The final score for this fishery is orange. This means that it is a good alternative for species with a red score, but it’s not the best score. Choose green rated species.

Fish in season 

Fish is in season when the spawning period has ended, as the quality is then at its best.

Alaska Pollock

Theragra chalcogramma
Origin

Pacific Ocean, north-west (FAO 61)

Farming- / Catch method

Bottom trawls

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Fish stocks and fishing pressure
Ecosystem effects
Fishery management
Final assessment
Explanation assessment

Alaska pollock is a species that is often used to make kibbeling and fish sticks. It is estimated that the stock will increase in the upcoming years. Alaska pollock is not very susceptible to [fishing pressure]. This species is currently not heavily overfishedOverfished:
A stock is overfished when the stock size has decreased so far that it can no longer produce a maximum sustainable yield. The size of the fish populations is insufficient to reproduce in the long term. 
. For that reason, it receives an orange score for the category fish stocks and fishing pressure.

Alaska pollock is mostly caught with demersalDemersal otter trawls:
A technique in which conical nets are dragged over the ground and are held open by large, square 'otter planks'. The planks also work as a plough, in which fish are hunted into the nets.
otter trawls. This fishery has a strong negative ecological impact. Furthermore, it has a high percentage of bycatchBycatch:
Species caught next to species targeted for fishery. By-catches can consist of non-commercial species and species that are too small, and can be kept (this part is sometimes called by-product) or thrown back into the sea (discards). 
and the survival rates of these discardsDiscards:
Unwanted by-catch, which is thrown back because there is no quota, the market price is too low, or the fish is below the legal minimum landing size. Discards can be alive or dead.
is low when thrown back into the sea. The category ecosystem effects receives a red score.

This fishery is managed by the European Common Fisheries Policy. The overall management is seen as partially effective so this category receives an orange score.

This fishery receives a red score as its final assessment. We advise to avoid this species and to choose alternative seafood, with an orange or green score.

Fish in season 

Fish is in season when the spawning period has ended, as the quality is then at its best.

ASC label

Fish with the ASC label is farmed in a sustainable manner.

MSC label

Fish with the MSC label is caught sustainably.

Good fish

This fish is not being overfished or is being responsibly farmed, with minimal impact on the environment.

Second choice

This fish is a second choice. There are still some improvements to be made in this fishery or fish farm.

Avoid

Do not buy this fish. It's being overfished or the way it's farmed or caught has a negative impact on the environment.

Welfare

There is fish available of this species that is farmed or caught using high welfare standards.

GlobalG.A.P.

GlobalG.A.P. certified farms are doing a step in the right direction in terms of sustainability. A few species with this label are getting a better score on the VISwijzer.

Organic

Organic standards are the strictest when it comes to fish feed. They also require certain measures for animal well-being.