Coalfish

Pollachius virens

Sighting evidence at St David's Head, Wales (Pembrokeshire)

Large shoals of coalfish circle St David's Head in open water above the reef, their dark backs and silver-white lateral lines creating a dizzying school display in the upwellings around the headland. They are opportunistic predators that exploit the tidal races to ambush sand eels and sprats, and their hovering, circling behaviour in the current makes them one of the most dynamic schooling fish encounters in Welsh waters. Juveniles are frequently found sheltering among kelp fronds at shallower depths.

Evidence at this site

0 records within 25 km

Confidence: low

No date on file

How is this calculated?

Sighting evidence is compiled from iNaturalist observation records within a set proximity radius, filtered for quality-grade observations. “Last confirmed” is the date of the most recent research-grade record. Record count covers a rolling 24-month window. Confidence reflects record count, recency, and consistency of seasonal signal.