The species formerly known as Theragra chalcogramma should now be identified as Gadus chalcogrammus. This change puts Alaska pollock in the same genus as the Atlantic, Pacific, and Greenland cods because DNA sequencing has revealed that, despite appearances, Alaska pollock are closely related to Atlantic cod. When the FDA updates its Seafood List with the new scientific name for Alaska pollock, the acceptable market names (Alaska Pollock and Walleye Pollock) will remain the same.

Trade regulations are commonly based on the Harmonized System (HS) codes published by The World Customs Organization and the HS codes are based on scientific names.

The next update for the HS nomenclature is scheduled for 2017. However, that update has already been drafted. It is therefore likely that the new scientific name for Alaska pollock won’t be included until the 2022 update to the HS codes.

In the meantime, buyers and sellers of Alaska pollock should continue business as usual.