©Vivica von Vietinghoff/DMM

Haddock

D-Schellfisch; GB-Haddock; DK-Kuller; PL-Plamiak; LT-Juodadėmė menkė; LV-Pikša; EST-Pikša; RU-Пикша; FIN-Kolja; S-Kolja

Characters

1) Short barbel on chin.
2) Inferior mouth.
3) Striking big black spot above pectoral fin.
●) 3 dorsal and 2 anal fins.
●) Flanks silvern, back dark-greenish, abdomen lighter.
Often 50 to 75 cm, max. 112 cm length.

Similar species

Whiting - barbel very small or missing; without big black spot above mid of pectoral fin (only a small spot above origin of pectoral fin).

Cod - barbel longer; pronounced white lateral line; pattern of mutliple brown spots.

Saithe - mouth in superior position.

Pollack - mouth in superior position.

Biology

Lives near the bottom in swarms in 10 to 200 m depth. Reproduction occurs in the first half of year, with up to 1.5 million eggs per female. Live expectancy up to 20 years.

Diet

Mainly bottom-living invertebraes, small fish and fish fry.

Importance

Popular food fish, commercially strongly used.

Endangerment

In the Baltic Sea endangered due to fisheries.