Saithe
Pollachius virens
About
The saithe stock in Norwegian waters is usually divided into two groups, living north and south respectively of 62° N latitude. Both of the stocks have remained at a relatively stable level. Saithe is both a pelagic fish and a bottom-dwelling fish, living at depths of between 0 and 300 meters.
The fishery
Saithe spawn along the coastal banks from the Lofoten Islands and south to the North Sea. The saithe fry then drift northwards, carried by the coastal currents, and young saithe start to appear in the South and Southwest of Norway in the spring, arriving off the coast of Finnmark as late as August. Saithe migrate huge distances from their feeding and growing grounds to their spawning grounds. Saithe is an important commercial species in Norway. Fishing for saithe takes place in coastal waters and in the far north to the west of the North Cape. In the fjords and in the waters off the Coast of Finnmark County, many saithe are caught using purse seines. In addition, the North Sea and banks to the north of western Finnmark are also good fishing grounds.
Information
- Availability
- Size
- Fishing methods
- Use
