Eleginus nawaga is a marine fish of the cod family. The antennae are not large. Three dorsal fins, two anal fins separated by wide intervals. Matures at the age of 3-4 years. Spawning is portioned, from January to March, in the coastal strip at a depth of up to 10 meters. Fecundity from 4.9 to 680 thousand eggs. It feeds on plankton, benthos and young fish. It is a valuable commercial fish.

Length up to 50 cm (usually 30-35 cm). Widespread in the North Pacific Ocean and Arctic Ocean; in Russia - in the seas lining the eastern coast; enters desalinated and even fresh water. Bottom, coastal fish.

Cold-loving benthic fish, inhabits the coastal zones of the Sea of Japan, Sea of Okhotsk, Bering and Chukchi Seas. Its feeding period takes place in summer at depths of 30-60 meters. In the fall-winter period, schools of fish move to the coast to breed. Some schools even enter lakes and river mouths.

It feeds on various worms, crustaceans, eggs and young of other fish. Becomes sexually mature in the second or third year of life. Spawns in January-March at bottom water temperatures from -0.5 to -1.9 ° C. The female hatches 4.9-680 thousand eggs, which slightly adhere to underwater objects. With the growth of young fish becomes more visible to predators, and it sometimes has to seek refuge under the dome of jellyfish cyaneas and aurelias.