The Fish

Tunas make long migrations across the open ocean between spawning and feeding areas. Bluefin tuna are surface-dwelling, cold-tolerant, high-jumping, fast-swimming, and one of the largest fishes in the Gulf of Maine, commonly reaching lengths over six feet.

This large crustacean has a long body and five sets of legs, and one pair that features big, strong claws. In fact, almost half of the lobster’s weight comes from its claws. Its shell can be mottled brown, green and black. In cold waters, like that of the northern Atlantic, lobsters grow at a slower rate.

Cusk have an elongated body with a broad, flattened triangular head. The mouth is large and wide. A single chin barbel adorns the lower jaw. Scales are small and embedded giving burbot the appearance of being slimy.

“Maine crabmeat” comes from two species, “peekytoe” or rock crab, and Jonah crab. Jonah crabs are a bit larger and reddish with large, black-tipped claws, and are found offshore. The smaller rock crab lives closer to shore, in bays and rivers. Red crab inhabits deep (1,000-2,000 feet) waters of the continental shelf and slope off the Atlantic coast.

Atlantic cod are bottom-dwelling, white-fleshed fish found from Greenland to North Carolina, usually found between 200-440 feet deep, but have been seen as deep as 1200 feet.

Pollock are a greenish hue, paling to yellow or smoky gray on the belly. A pale, lateral line contrasts with the dark sides. They look similar to cod and haddock, but for their solid greenish color and forked tail. They range widely throughout the cold waters of the Gulf, and inshore schools of juveniles are known as “harbor pollock” for their habitat preference.