Whitefish
Saithe
Pollachius virens · Norwegian saithe
Abundant, well-managed and priced well below cod. The volume workhorse for processing, saltfish and food service.
Saithe carries the largest whitefish quota in Norwegian waters after cod and is landed year-round by both coastal vessels and trawlers. The flesh is greyer than cod raw and whitens on cooking, which is a specification issue rather than a quality issue — but it needs to be explained to buyers who have only bought cod.
A large share goes to salting and drying for the Portuguese, Brazilian and Caribbean markets, and to German and French processing. Fresh loins into European food service are a growing position where price stability matters more than peak quality.
Season through the year
- January: Peak season
- February: Available
- March: Available
- April: Available
- May: Available
- June: Available
- July: Available
- August: Available
- September: Peak season
- October: Peak season
- November: Peak season
- December: Available
- Peak season
- Available
- Limited volume
- Out of season
Landed year-round with autumn and winter peaks.
Where this product trades
Commercial specification
- Scientific name
- Pollachius virens
- Production
- Wild-caught
- Condition
- Fresh, chilled · Frozen · Salted
- Size and weight class
- H&G 1–2.5, 2.5–4, 4+ kg. Fillets 300–800, 800+ g.
- Packing
- Frozen blocks 20–25 kg, IQF cartons, fresh EPS with ice.
- Minimum volume
- One 20 ft container frozen. One pallet fresh.
- Product forms
- HG — Headed and guttedHead off, gutted
- FLT — FilletSkin-on or skinless; trim level and pin bone status stated separately
- LOIN — LoinThick back cut, pin-bone free
- PORT — PortionFixed weight, IQF or interleaved
- SPLT — Split / driedStockfish and saltfish formats
- Shelf life
- Fresh 8–10 days on ice. Frozen 18–24 months at −18 °C.
- Temperature
- 0 to +2 °C chilled, −18 °C or colder frozen.
- Certifications available
- MSC Chain of Custody
- BRCGS Food Safety
- IFS Food
- EU establishment approval number
- Health certificate
- Catch certificate (IUU)
- Incoterms 2020 normally quoted
- EXW · FCA · FOB · CFR · CIF · DAP
Send the specification and we return standardised offers from verified suppliers — same weight basis, same Incoterm, freight and fees separated out.