Bull Trout

Salvelinus confluentus

General Status Rank: 
Sensitive
ELCODE: 
AFCHA05020
Common Name: 
Bull Trout
Scientific Name: 
Salvelinus confluentus
Naming References: 
B118
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Fish
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Actinopterygii
Order: 
Salmoniformes
Family: 
Salmonidae
References: 
B118
General Biology

Economic/Human Considerations

Sport fishing
References: 
B118
Habitat
Deep pools in large cool rivers and lakes, most common in mountainous areas where snowfields and glaciers are present (B118); groundwater upwellings are frequently associated with bull trout redds and increase spawning success as they provide stable water temps. (R145);Bull Trout occur in the southwest portion of the NT and in the Mackenzie River system north to Great Bear River and perhaps beyond. This species exhibits riverine, fluvial, adfluvial, and anadromous (rarely, and not known to occur in the NT) life history types (Richardson et al. 2001; Evans et al. 2002) (B172).
References: 
B118
R145
B172
Distribution

Ecozones

Taiga Cordillera, Taiga Plains, Boreal Cordillera
References: 
B118

Distribution

About 20% (or more?); Liard River drainage, South Nahanni,Keele, R, and southern-central portion of Mackenzie River. Great Bear River (R145; see B172))
Score: 
G
References: 
H137
R145
B172

Number of Occurrences

Found in Liard drainage and southern part of Mackenzie River
Score: 
AB
References: 
H137

Area of Occupancy

Declining in sourhern parts of distribution; unknown trend in NWT
Score: 
-
References: 
H137
Population

Population Size

unknown(H137); small population but wide ranging of habitat types over a large giographic area (R145)
Score: 
DE
References: 
H137
R145
Trends

Trends

Declining in sourhern parts of distribution; unknown trend in NWT
References: 
H137
Threats

Threats

extremely susceptible to perturbation
Score: 
B
References: 
H139

Intrinsic Vulnerability

Score: 
-
References: 
H139
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Sensitive
Status Rank Description: 
Modified from May Be at Risk to sensitive after assessment by COSEWIC (2012) - Restricted area in NWT, evidence of declines in southern part of range but unknown trends in NWT. Very little work has been conducted on these trout and other than a few reports in older literature (e.g., 1970’s Mackenzie Valley work)
S Rank: 
S2S3
Decision Process Description: 
Drafted by S. Carriere, reviewed by K. Dtiz (DFO, Yellowknife), based on comments from Sahtu Renewable Resource Board; suggested status from SRRB = May Be At Risk; but trends and threats in NWT are unknown. Reviewed based on pers com by Dr. James D. Reist 2005.; Reviewed by DFO in 2010,no change; Reviewed in 2012 - changed to sensitive after assessment by COSEWIC (2012) as Special concern; Reviewed by DFO in 2015, no change
Last Updated: 
October 17, 2017
Status Designations

NWT - Assessment by Species at Risk Committee

NWT SARC Assessment: 
Not Applicable
Species under federal jurisdiction

NWT - Species at Risk Legal Status

NWT Status Rank: 
Not Applicable
Species under federal jurisdiction

Canada – Assessment by Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada

COSEWIC Status: 
Special Concern
As part of the Western Arctic Population in Canada -2012; Designated Special Concern in November 2012. COSEWIC. 2012. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Bull Trout Salvelinus confluentus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. xxii + 103 pp.
References: 
R223

References

Area of Occupancy

  • Sahtu Renewable Resources Board @ Ben Olsen, Biologist (2000) Letter to RWED - dated 30 May 2000. Sahtu Renewable Resources Board Copy in database reference file - H137 Return
COSEWIC Status
  • COSEWIC (2012) COSEWIC status report on Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) in Canada. copy in binder - see SARA registry - R223 Return

Economic Status

  • Page, L. M. and Brook, M. B. (1991) A field guide Freshwater Fishes. Houghton Mifflin Company Peterson Field Guides RWED Library - QL 625.P3 - B118 Return

Ecozones

  • Page, L. M. and Brook, M. B. (1991) A field guide Freshwater Fishes. Houghton Mifflin Company Peterson Field Guides RWED Library - QL 625.P3 - B118 Return

Habitat

  • Page, L. M. and Brook, M. B. (1991) A field guide Freshwater Fishes. Houghton Mifflin Company Peterson Field Guides RWED Library - QL 625.P3 - B118 Return
  • Mochnacz, N.J., Reist, J.D., Cott, P., Low, G., Wastle, R. (2004) Biological and habitat data for Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) and associated species from stream surveys conducted in the southern and central Mackenzie River Valley, Northwest Territories, 2000 to 2001.. Can. Data. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 1131:iv + 38p. - R145 Return
  • Sawatzky, C.D., Michalak, D. Reist, J.D. Carmichael, T.J., Mandrak, N.E., Heuring, L.G. (2007) Distributions of freshwater and anadromous fishes from the mainland Northwest Territories, Canada.. Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2793 - B172 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • Reist, JD (2000) Pers. communication. DFO Research Scientist and Head Arctic Fish Ecology and Assessment Research Section Fisheries and Oceans Canada DFO - H139 Return

Naming

  • Page, L. M. and Brook, M. B. (1991) A field guide Freshwater Fishes. Houghton Mifflin Company Peterson Field Guides RWED Library - QL 625.P3 - B118 Return

NWT Known Subspecies

Page, L. M. and Brook, M. B. (1991) A field guide Freshwater Fishes. Houghton Mifflin Company Peterson Field Guides RWED Library - QL 625.P3 - B118 Return
,
Sawatzky, C.D., Michalak, D. Reist, J.D. Carmichael, T.J., Mandrak, N.E., Heuring, L.G. (2007) Distributions of freshwater and anadromous fishes from the mainland Northwest Territories, Canada.. Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2793 - B172 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Sahtu Renewable Resources Board @ Ben Olsen, Biologist (2000) Letter to RWED - dated 30 May 2000. Sahtu Renewable Resources Board Copy in database reference file - H137 Return

Population Size

Sahtu Renewable Resources Board @ Ben Olsen, Biologist (2000) Letter to RWED - dated 30 May 2000. Sahtu Renewable Resources Board Copy in database reference file - H137 Return
,
Mochnacz, N.J., Reist, J.D., Cott, P., Low, G., Wastle, R. (2004) Biological and habitat data for Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) and associated species from stream surveys conducted in the southern and central Mackenzie River Valley, Northwest Territories, 2000 to 2001.. Can. Data. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 1131:iv + 38p. - R145 Return

Range Extent

  • Sahtu Renewable Resources Board @ Ben Olsen, Biologist (2000) Letter to RWED - dated 30 May 2000. Sahtu Renewable Resources Board Copy in database reference file - H137 Return
  • Mochnacz, N.J., Reist, J.D., Cott, P., Low, G., Wastle, R. (2004) Biological and habitat data for Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) and associated species from stream surveys conducted in the southern and central Mackenzie River Valley, Northwest Territories, 2000 to 2001.. Can. Data. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 1131:iv + 38p. - R145 Return
  • Sawatzky, C.D., Michalak, D. Reist, J.D. Carmichael, T.J., Mandrak, N.E., Heuring, L.G. (2007) Distributions of freshwater and anadromous fishes from the mainland Northwest Territories, Canada.. Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2793 - B172 Return

Short Term Trends

  • Sahtu Renewable Resources Board @ Ben Olsen, Biologist (2000) Letter to RWED - dated 30 May 2000. Sahtu Renewable Resources Board Copy in database reference file - H137 Return

Taxonomy

  • Page, L. M. and Brook, M. B. (1991) A field guide Freshwater Fishes. Houghton Mifflin Company Peterson Field Guides RWED Library - QL 625.P3 - B118 Return

Threats

  • Reist, JD (2000) Pers. communication. DFO Research Scientist and Head Arctic Fish Ecology and Assessment Research Section Fisheries and Oceans Canada DFO - H139 Return