Walleye

Sander vitreus (Stizostedion vitreum)

General Status Rank: 
Secure
ELCODE: 
AFCQC05020
Common Name: 
Walleye
Scientific Name: 
Sander vitreus (Stizostedion vitreum)
Synonyms: 
Stizostedion vitreum
Naming References: 
B011
B059
CL001
Google image search
Taxonomy
Group: 
Fish
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Actinopterygii
Order: 
Perciformes
Family: 
Percidae
References: 
B011
B059
General Biology

Female Age at Maturity

3 to 6 years
References: 
B011

Longevity

max 20 years
References: 
B011

Economic/Human Considerations

important commerical and sport fishing spp
References: 
B011
Habitat
adults = most abundant in large, shallow, turbid lakes, but found in diverse habitats spawning = rocky areas in white water below impassable falls, or in boulder to coarse-gravel shoals in lakes (B011); Large, shallow, turbid lakes are preferred but this species also occurs in large, turbid or clear streams and rivers and large clear lakes (B172)
References: 
B011
H133
H139
B172
Distribution

Ecozones

Taiga Cordillera, Taiga Plains, Taiga Shield, Boreal Cordillera, Boreal Plains
References: 
B011
B059

Distribution

50% Widely distributed in the NT, the Walleye exhibits riverine, adfluvial, and lacustrine life history types.
Score: 
G
References: 
B011
B059
Marine Distribution Description: 
freshwater only

Number of Occurrences

about 20-100; Great Slave and Great Bear lakes and Mackenzie river drainage (B172)
Score: 
CD
References: 
B011
B059
B172

Area of Occupancy

stable
Score: 
-
Population

Population Size

more than 10 000
References: 
H133
Threats

Threats

potential commercial overfishing, is at the northern limits of its range in the NT where its growth is slow and spawning is infrequent. Many of the populations may be small or marginal and not able to withstand commercial harvest very well. Two populations which are relatively large, Kakisa and Tathlina Lakes, have shown signs of commercial overexploitation in the past.
Score: 
BC
References: 
H133

Intrinsic Vulnerability

limited; Climate change may have a positive effect on this taxon too.
Score: 
-
References: 
H133
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Secure
Status Rank Description: 
At the northern limits but large range in the NT, where its growth is slow and spawning is infrequent. Presumed secure but some populations may be small or marginal and not able to withstand commercial harvest very well. widespread distribution & presumptive population sizes; but no formal assessments of populations
S Rank: 
S4
Decision Process Description: 
Drafted by the Arctic Stock Assessment DFO Committee - Freshwater Fishes - Chris Day, Dr. Ross Tallman, Dr. Sue Cosens with review by S. Carriere Reviewed by Dr. Reist, DFO in 2000; Reviewed by L Cooper, G Low, Dr Reist in 2005, no change; Reviewed by DFO in 2010,no change; Reviewed by DFO in 2015, modified from sensitive to secure due more information on large distribution and only moderate threats at this time for a small portion of the distribution; Reviewed by DFO in 2020. no change
Last Updated: 
January 27, 2021

References

Age Of Maturity

  • Scott WB and Crossman EJ (1979) Freshwater Fishes of Canada. Bryant Press Ltd RWED Library Call #QL626.S3 - B011 Return

Economic Status

  • Scott WB and Crossman EJ (1979) Freshwater Fishes of Canada. Bryant Press Ltd RWED Library Call #QL626.S3 - B011 Return

Ecozones

  • Scott WB and Crossman EJ (1979) Freshwater Fishes of Canada. Bryant Press Ltd RWED Library Call #QL626.S3 - B011 Return
  • McPhail JD, and Lindsey CC (1970) Freshwater Fishes of Northwestern Canada and Alaska. Queen's Printer for Canada Fisheries Research Board of Canada Bulletin No. 173 RWED Library Call QL 626.M3 - B059 Return

Habitat

  • Scott WB and Crossman EJ (1979) Freshwater Fishes of Canada. Bryant Press Ltd RWED Library Call #QL626.S3 - B011 Return
  • Arctic Stock Assessment DFO Committee - Freshwater Fishes - Chris Day, Dr. Ross Tallman, Dr. Sue Cosens (2000) Pers. communication. Arctic Stock Assessment Section, DFO Science Directorate, Freshwater Institute, 501 University Cres., R3T 2N6 , 204 983 5158 - H133 Return
  • Reist, JD (2000) Pers. communication. DFO Research Scientist and Head Arctic Fish Ecology and Assessment Research Section Fisheries and Oceans Canada DFO - H139 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

  • Arctic Stock Assessment DFO Committee - Freshwater Fishes - Chris Day, Dr. Ross Tallman, Dr. Sue Cosens (2000) Pers. communication. Arctic Stock Assessment Section, DFO Science Directorate, Freshwater Institute, 501 University Cres., R3T 2N6 , 204 983 5158 - H133 Return

Longevity

  • Scott WB and Crossman EJ (1979) Freshwater Fishes of Canada. Bryant Press Ltd RWED Library Call #QL626.S3 - B011 Return

Naming

  • Scott WB and Crossman EJ (1979) Freshwater Fishes of Canada. Bryant Press Ltd RWED Library Call #QL626.S3 - B011 Return
  • McPhail JD, and Lindsey CC (1970) Freshwater Fishes of Northwestern Canada and Alaska. Queen's Printer for Canada Fisheries Research Board of Canada Bulletin No. 173 RWED Library Call QL 626.M3 - B059 Return
  • Nelson et al. (2004) Common and Scientific Names of Fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico.. American Fisheries Society Special Publication 29. 386 pp. Not in hand at ENR; consult DFO - CL001 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Scott WB and Crossman EJ (1979) Freshwater Fishes of Canada. Bryant Press Ltd RWED Library Call #QL626.S3 - B011 Return
  • McPhail JD, and Lindsey CC (1970) Freshwater Fishes of Northwestern Canada and Alaska. Queen's Printer for Canada Fisheries Research Board of Canada Bulletin No. 173 RWED Library Call QL 626.M3 - B059 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

Population Size

Arctic Stock Assessment DFO Committee - Freshwater Fishes - Chris Day, Dr. Ross Tallman, Dr. Sue Cosens (2000) Pers. communication. Arctic Stock Assessment Section, DFO Science Directorate, Freshwater Institute, 501 University Cres., R3T 2N6 , 204 983 5158 - H133 Return

Range Extent

  • Scott WB and Crossman EJ (1979) Freshwater Fishes of Canada. Bryant Press Ltd RWED Library Call #QL626.S3 - B011 Return
  • McPhail JD, and Lindsey CC (1970) Freshwater Fishes of Northwestern Canada and Alaska. Queen's Printer for Canada Fisheries Research Board of Canada Bulletin No. 173 RWED Library Call QL 626.M3 - B059 Return

Taxonomy

  • Scott WB and Crossman EJ (1979) Freshwater Fishes of Canada. Bryant Press Ltd RWED Library Call #QL626.S3 - B011 Return
  • McPhail JD, and Lindsey CC (1970) Freshwater Fishes of Northwestern Canada and Alaska. Queen's Printer for Canada Fisheries Research Board of Canada Bulletin No. 173 RWED Library Call QL 626.M3 - B059 Return

Threats

  • Arctic Stock Assessment DFO Committee - Freshwater Fishes - Chris Day, Dr. Ross Tallman, Dr. Sue Cosens (2000) Pers. communication. Arctic Stock Assessment Section, DFO Science Directorate, Freshwater Institute, 501 University Cres., R3T 2N6 , 204 983 5158 - H133 Return