Top Alaskan Fish That’s Consumed Worldwide

Did you know that some of the most popular types of seafood in the world actually come from Alaska? Salmon, halibut, and cod are just a few examples of Alaskan fish. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at some of the most commonly consumed Alaska fish species, and share why they’re unique—and uniquely delicious! 

1. Blackfish

Scientific Name

Alaska Blackfish - Dallia pectoralis

Which part of Alaska

Alaska blackfish can only be found in eastern Siberia and Alaska. The Alaskan fish often live in densely vegetated areas in ponds, rivers, swamps, and lakes.

Blackfish from Alaska’s interior and Anchorage reach 7 inches at age 4, while those from the Bristol Bay region are slower growing (2.5 inches at age 4), but live longer. In Bristol Bay, the older fish are cannibalistic, too. 

Unique Characteristics

The small, bottom-dwelling fish have large paddle-like pectoral fins and tails and broad, flat heads. Spawning takes place between May and August, with the female releasing just a portion of her eggs each time (about 40-300 throughout the entire period).

As a very unique trait, Blackfish have a modified esophagus that can absorb gas—meaning these fish can inhale oxygen and breathe air! This allows them to survive in tundra regions during dry periods. 

Taste Profile & Nutrition

Alaskan Natives rely on Blackfish for food, as they’re an easy-to-catch subsistence fish. They are low calorie and a good source of protein, calcium, and iron. 

2. Burbot

Scientific Name

Burbot (also known as lawyer, eelpout, methy, lush, lingcod, and mud shark) - Lota lota

Which part of Alaska

While Burbot can be found in Europe and Asia, they’re also found in North America. In Alaska, they can be found in clear, glacial lakes and rivers, but not those in the state’s Southeast.

Unique Characteristics

A member of the cod family, these unusual—and rather ugly—fish are popular for sport and subsistence fishers alike. They have small, microscopic skales, come in a range of colors, and are long-living and slow-growing. It’s not uncommon to find Burbot that are 20+ years old. 

Unlike many other types of freshwater fish, they spawn in mid-to-late winter. They also eat a lot, and hunt in the night for insects, invertebrates, other fish, and even mice or shrews. 

Taste Profile & Nutrition

The Lota lota is a delicate and boneless Alaskan white fish. Often referred to as “poor man’s lobster,” the fish tastes great steamed or boiled and has a mild enough flavor for children. 

Threats

Since they live long and grow slowly, they’re susceptible to overharvesting. 

3. Char

Varieties & Scientific Name

• Arctic - Salvelinus alpinus
• Dolly Varden - Salvelinus malma

Which part of Alaska

Introduced to cold, nutrient-poor Alaskan lakes, growth tends to be slow for Arctic Char and size may vary considerably (2 pounds to 10 pounds). The largest Arctic Char are found in the Bristol Bay region. 

Dolly Varden Char can reach a much larger size (around 27 pounds). They’re widely distributed and can be found in coastal regions across the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea, and close to northern Canada. They’re also found in Interior Alaskan streams.

Unique Characteristics

Char are an attractive salmonid fish (member of the salmon family) with pink and red spots that may become more exaggerated (or take on gold, rose, orange, yellow, or red colors) during spawning. 

There used to be a bounty on Alaskan Dolly Varden because they prey on salmon eggs and fry (juvenile salmon). However, other fish species were found to be bigger predators. 

Taste Profile & Nutrition

Char is perfect for those who think salmon has too much fishy flavor. They’re delicious baked, poached, and grilled, and especially nice for smoking given their high oil content. 

They’re a good source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids.

Threats

Overharvesting, climate change, habitat disruption, pollution, and invasive species are threats to Char. 

4. Hagfish 

Scientific Name

There are 76 species - Eptatretus deani

Which part of Alaska

Hagfish are found in the coastal regions of the north Pacific. They’re commonly found in the Inside Waters of Southern Southeast Alaska. 

Unique Characteristics

These eel-shaped and bottom-dwelling creatures are sexually dimorphic (the female is larger), blind, and angnathans (jawless). They have a mouth, but no teeth. 

Perhaps most astoundingly, they produce an egg-white slime that’s viscous and intact enough to hold, stretch, and drop. Used to ward off predators, it can encase an animal in a ball of slime and impair their gills.

Taste Profile & Nutrition

Often barbecued fresh or eaten in stir-fry meals, the market for Hagfish is mostly concentrated in Korea. 

5. Halibut 

Scientific Name

Pacific - Hippoglossus stenolepis

Which part of Alaska

Halibut are common in most of Alaska’s marine waters. 

Unique Characteristics

As one of the largest flatfish and sideways swimming fish, Halibut are very unique. Most of them are right-eyed and they can reach ages of 55 years and weights of up to 500+ pounds!

Threats

The US commercial halibut fishery has been certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). 

6. Herring

Scientific Name

Pacific - Clupea pallasii

Which part of Alaska

Found throughout the coastal areas of the Pacific Ocean, Herring are common near Japan, California, and Russia. In Alaska, commercially exploitable Pacific Herring can be found from the state’s southern boundary to Norton Sound. 

Unique Characteristics

Herring are a blue-green color with sides that are silvery. They have a forked tail and may reach lengths of up to 18 inches, but are often only half that size. While they look like many other fish, they have large, distinguishable eyes. 

Unlike many other fish, a female Pacific Herring may lay around 20,000 eggs every single year!

Taste Profile & Nutrition

Herring have a decent amount of omega-3 fatty acids and an impressive quantity of protein. They’re also a good source of vitamins A, B12, and D, as well as selenium, phosphorus, and potassium. However, they do have a considerable amount of sodium (76.5 mg per 3 ounces).

Threats

Environmental changes and ecosystem losses are substantially impacting Herring growth and recruitment. However, in Alaska, stocks are well managed and there should be long-term, sustained populations. 

7. Lingcod

Varieties & Scientific Name

Lingcod (also known as blue cod, green cod, blue fish, geenling, buffalo cod, and white cod) - Ophiodon elongatus

Which part of Alaska

Lingcod are typically easy to find in the Pacific, all the way from Baja California to the Alaskan Peninsula. Southeast Alaska, Kodiak, the Kenai Peninsula, and Prince William Sound is where you’d likely see them in Alaska. 

Unique Characteristics

Voracious predators, Lingcod have a large mouth, sharp teeth, and can easily weigh over 80 pounds. They’ve got a variable color, but typically have copper or brown blotches (similar to cheetah print). While they eat almost anything (including other Lingcod), they’re also pretty sedentary and often don’t swim too far from their home reef. 

Taste Profile & Nutrition

With a flavor like that of cod or halibut, lingcod is mild and enjoyed in a range of recipes. They’re a common choice for fish and chips in the Pacific Northwest and are a good source of protein. However, they’re not a top pick for omega-3s. 

8. Pollock

Scientific Name

Walleye - Gadus chalcogrammus

Which part of Alaska

Found broadly in the North Pacific Ocean, these bottom-dwelling fish can be found in the Gulf of Alaska region, as well as in the central and eastern Bering Sea and around the Aleutian Islands Region. 

Unique Characteristics

Every day, Walleye Pollock migrate to forage. 

Alaska’s fishery of this species is one of the largest and most valuable in the world. Its estimated valuation is more than $500 million!

Taste Profile & Nutrition

Walleye pollock is a nearly-ubiquitous food and is what’s often used for frozen fish sticks and fish filets. It’s also processed into surimi, the ingredient which becomes imitation lobster, crab, and other seafood products. 

While it isn’t always the healthiest in these fried forms, the fish is very rich in protein and omega-3s—and provides more than 100% of the vitamin B12 we require each day! 

Threats

As a result of bottom trawling, there are some concerns about habitat degradation. This has prompted a ban on bottom trawling in some regions in the Gulf of Alaska as well as actions to support Steller Sea Lions, for which Pollock is an essential prey. 

9. Rockfish

Scientific Name

Yelloweye (Pacific red snapper, yellow belly, red rock cod) - Sebastes ruberrimus

Which part of Alaska

Yelloweye Rockfish are found on the southern coast of the Aleutian Island chain and in the Gulf of Alaska. 

Unique Characteristics

No surprise here, but Yelloweye rockfish are a brilliant orange-yellow color with bright yellow eyes. They’re one of Alaska’s most valued rockfish species, and also one of the largest. 

They’re slow to mature, but do have long lives. Some can even reach 120+ years old! Females produce up to 2,700,000 eggs. Once the larvae mature, they may venture into deeper habitat, but some may spend their entire life atop a single pile of rocks! 

Taste Profile & Nutrition

These fish are known to have a sweet flavor, medium texture, and low oil content. While they are high in protein, they also have a comparatively low content of omega-3s and a significant amount of sodium.  

Threats

While stocks are currently healthy, Yelloweye Rockeye are very vulnerable to overfishing. 

10. Sablefish

Scientific Name

• Sablefish (black cod) - Anoplopoma fimbria

Which part of Alaska

Sablefish can be found along the entire Pacific coast. In Alaska, they reside around the coast of the Gulf of Alaska, the Aleutian Island Chain, and in the continental slope in the Bering Sea. 

Unique Characteristics

Sablefish have an elongated shape and are black or dark gray on their upper body. They are relatively large and can easily reach weights of around 55 pounds. They’ve also got a relatively long life, and many caught in commercial fisheries are about 40 years old. 

Most impressive, however, is how many eggs they lay. On average, they lay around 110 eggs per gram of body weight. So, for a sablefish of average size, more than 407,000 eggs will be laid. A large one can lay more than 1 million eggs each year! 

Taste Profile & Nutrition

Thanks to their high fat content, sablefish have a rich flavor, distinctive taste, and velvety texture. It’s no surprise that it’s a great source of omega-3s! It is slightly lower in protein, however. 

Threats

While current stocks are lower than peak periods, sablefish aren’t considered an overfished species. US fisheries are certified sustainable by the MSC.

11. Salmon 

Varieties & Scientific Name

• Chinook - Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
• Chum - Oncorhynchus keta
• Coho - Oncorhynchus kisutch
• Pink - Oncorhynchus gorbuscha
• Sockeye - Oncorhynchus nerka

Which part of Alaska

As the most popular Alaska fish species, commercial salmon fisheries can be found from Ketchikan to Kotzebue, and in the Interior region. 

Bristol Bay is the largest sockeye fishery, while Southeast Alaska, Prince WIlliam Sound, Kodiak, and the Alaska Peninsula are known for pink salmon. Coho and sockeye are often sourced from the highly-esteemed Copper River.   

Unique Characteristics

Adult salmon are known for their migration patterns between fresh and saltwater. Some species, like king, will stay in saltwater for up to 6 years, while pink will return to freshwater after just 2 years. In some cases, returning to freshwater will cause physical changes for the salmon. Sockeye, for example, will develop a deep red color. 

They also have interesting spawning patterns. Chum salmon, for example, may travel well over 2,000 miles to find an area suitable for spawning. Like they do when they move back to freshwater, some species—like coho—will also turn a deep red or maroon color when spawning. 

Taste Profile & Nutrition

Salmon is a mild-flavored fish with an oily taste that’s just as mild. It’s a great source of protein, many vitamins and minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids. 

Threats

While climate change may contribute to habitat loss and degradation, current Alaskan salmon habitats are pristine and well maintained. 

Bring Alaskan Fish to Your Dinner Plate

As can be seen, there are many tasty types of fish in Alaska. These fish species are unique, nutritious, and play a key role in Alaska’s economy. Fortunately, because of the state’s strict guidelines, we can continue to enjoy Alaskan fish for years to come. If you’ve never had Alaska seafood before, be sure to add it to your list of things to try – you won’t regret it! Thanks for reading and we hope you have a delicious day.