Saithe

Scientific: Pollachius virens. English: Saithe, coalfish, pollock. Icelandic: Ufsi. For more languages see the Marine Animal Dictionary.

Biology and distribution

The saithe is a large codfish, usually between 70 and 110 cm long in catches, but the largest individual caught in Icelandic waters measured 132 cm. It is found all around Iceland, but is rarer in the colder waters to the north and east of the country. The saithe can be described as benthopelagic fish, i.e., it occurs both close to the bottom and in the water column. It has a streamlined shape and is consequently a very good swimmer. It can swim rapidly all over the Icelandic continental shelf and individuals tagged in Icelandic waters have often been fished along mainland Europe. Fishes tagged in Europe have also been fished in Icelandic waters. The saithe is native to European waters from Murmansk in the north to the English Channel in the south. It is also found around the Faroe Islands, in Greenlandic waters and from Labrador to Cape Cod in North America.

The saithe feeds primarily on pelagic organisms. Krill is the most important food for young fish, but is also consumed by large individuals. Capelin and sandeels are the most important foods for larger saithe, but other fishes are also eaten to a lesser extent. Spawning takes place along the south and southwest coasts, from January to March; earlier than other codfishes. In mid June the juveniles are very common in shallow waters all around Iceland. They gradually move into deeper waters as they grow older. Growth is rather rapid and the saithe reaches sexual maturity at the age of 5 or 6 years.

Catch and fishing methods

The saithe has, for a long time, been one of the most important commercial fish species in Icelandic waters. Catches have been from 30,000 to 130,000 tonnes annually since 1950. Almost all the current catches are by Icelandic boats, but the saithe was also an important catch for the German fleet, when it conducted its fisheries in Icelandic waters.

The current catches are mostly taken with bottom trawl and spread rather evenly over the year. However, considerable catches also used to be taken by gillnetters. The saithe both sustains direct catches and exists as a bycatch in cod and haddock fisheries. Most of the catches are along the continental shelf break, off the south and west coast. Presumably these are the main feeding grounds for the saithe. Fisheries for juvenile saithe with fishing rod are also popular with human juveniles in harbours all around Iceland.

Stock status (from the Marine Research institute)

In 2009, landings of saithe (Pollachius virens) were 61.000 t; a decrease of approximately 13% compared to 2008. The annual landings have exceeded 60.000 t since 2004, having then increased from an average of 30.000 t in the years 1998–2001. Mean weight at age has been low since 2005 but since 2008 an increase for most age groups has been observed.

The spawning stock biomass at the beginning of 2010 is estimated to be 89.000 t and fishing mortality in 2009 is estimated at 0.47, well above the target of 0.3. In recent years, increased targeting of small saithe has been observed, which reduces yield and spawning stock biomass per recruit.

ICES hosted a meeting earlier in 2010 where a benchmark assessment of the Icelandic saithe stock took place. The results of the meeting were that the assessment method was changed and a harvest control rule (HCR) was suggested and tested. Fmsy for the stock is now estimated 0.28. Landings in 2010 are predicted to be around 45.000 t and the spawning stock to increase to 94.000 t. in 2011.

The advice in recent years has aimed at keeping the fishing mortality at or below 0.3. Considering both the benchmark results and the change in emphasis from biological reference points in ICES, the MRI recommends that the TAC should not exceed 40 000 t in the quota year 2010/2011. This yield is likely to correspond to a fishing mortality (F4–9) close to 0.28.

Processing and markets

The processing methods for saithe are fairly similar as for cod. A large part is filleted and frozen at sea by freezer trawlers or iced at sea and subsequently filleted and frozen in shore based factories. A considerable part is also salted and dried.

Saithe is sold all over the world, the largest market being in Germany, where there is a long tradition to eat saithe. A large and similar market is also in the Netherlands. Most of the frozen fillets go to these markets as well as to France, Lithuania, United States, besides most other countries. However, there are two major exceptions to this, the salted fish mostly goes to Spain and the dried fish to Nigeria.

References and further information

References: (Pálsson, 1983), (Jakobsen & Olsen, 1987), (Jónsson, 1997), (Jónsson & Pálsson, 2006), (Ármannsson & Jónsson, 2007).

For full citation and further information on the main species in general see this page

Hreiðar Þór Valtýsson, University of Akureyri