Arctic Char

Salvelinus alpinus

General Status Rank: 
Secure
ELCODE: 
AFCHA05010
Common Name: 
Arctic Char
Scientific Name: 
Salvelinus alpinus
Naming References: 
B011
B059
B064
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Fish
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Actinopterygii
Order: 
Salmoniformes
Family: 
Salmonidae
References: 
B011
B059
B062
W012
General Biology

Female Age at Maturity

6" (5 to 7 years?)
References: 
B011

Longevity

max 40 years
References: 
B011

Economic/Human Considerations

Very important traditional food for Inuit and their dogs. Delicacy food in N. America(B011); fisheries, minor commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes(W017)
References: 
B011
W017
Habitat
adults = marine or freshwater spawning = gravel or rocky shoals in freshwater lakes in the arctic fry = stay in freshwater until 5 - 7 years old, then migrate to ocean or stay in freshwater:Marine(B011, BSC5). Env: benthopelagic; anadromous; freshwater; brackish; marine ; depth range 30-70m Clim: temperate; 4-16°C; 85°N-42°N, 180°W-180°E(W017);Found in the coastal regions of the NT, Arctic Char exhibit anadromous, freshwater-resident lacustrine (Richardson et al. 2001; Evans et al. 2002), and possibly riverine (Stewart and Bernier 1983) life history types.(B172)
References: 
B011
H133
H139
BSC5
W017
B172
Distribution

Ecozones

Arctic Cordillera, Northern Arctic, Southern Arctic, Taiga Cordillera, Taiga Plains, Beaufort Sea Amundsen Gulf
References: 
B011
B059
BSC5
R131

Distribution

0.29 (B011); The NT distribution area for Arctic Char was extended west along the northern coast to include occurrences in the vicinity of Liverpool Bay (Sellers 1990) (B172); also introduced north and south of Great Slave Lake (B172)
Score: 
G
References: 
B011
B172
Marine Distribution Description: 
summer feeding migrations to marine coastal areas with overwintering in rivers and lakes

Number of Occurrences

small (6-20); coastal water of Beaufort Sea and Arctic Ocean, not usually range far inland except in the larger rivers ; Marine: 25+ known occurrences in NWT: along coast from Delta to Parry Peninsula, up through Banks Is. and to Prince Patrick Is. (B059, BSC5); introduced popluations in 1989 from Tree River, Nunavut into several lakes (and streams?) in the Yellowknife (Taiga Shield) and Hay River areas (Taiga Plains south), including Polar Lake, where it is still fished today (A140)
References: 
B011
B059
BSC5
A140

Historical Distribution

unknown
References: 
B011
B059

Area of Occupancy

stable
Score: 
-
References: 
H133
R131
Population

Population Size

More than 10 000(H133); Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tm=7-10; tmax=24; Fec=400)(W017) 101.6cm (R131)
References: 
H133
R131
W017
Trends

Trends

Decline in some stocks(H133); Three main forms 1-isolated,lacustrine fw populations 2-resident, nonanadromous lacustrine 3-anadromous form(R131)
References: 
H133
R131
Threats

Threats

potential commercial overfishing, subsistence and sport overfishing
Score: 
C
References: 
B011
B059

Intrinsic Vulnerability

Environmental extremes of natural habitat/ Climate change
Score: 
-
References: 
B011
B059
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Secure
Status Rank Description: 
But some stocks are sensitive such as Sylvia Grinnel R. (NU), Hornaday R.(NWT), Kuujjua River (NWT) and the Dianna R.(NU). Lake Hazen Charr are sensitive due to small population size and environmental extremes of natural habitat. Very abundant (R131)
S Rank: 
S4S5
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; Based on comments by the FJMC, Inuvik 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, no change
Last Updated: 
July 22, 2015

References

Age Of Maturity

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

Area of Occupancy

  • 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
  • Coad B.W. and Reist J.D. (2004) Annotated List of the Arctic Marine Fishes of Canada.. DFO, Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2674 - R131 Return

Economic Status

  • Scott WB and Crossman EJ (1979) Freshwater Fishes of Canada. Bryant Press Ltd RWED Library Call #QL626.S3 - B011 Return
  • FishBase (2004) Fish Base, accessed Nov 5, 2004. Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2004 www.fishbase.org, version (09/2004) - W017 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
  • Hunter, J.G., Leach, S.T. McAllister, D.E. and Steigerwald, M.B. (1984) A distributional atlas of records of the marine fishes of Arctic Canada in the Naitonal Museums of Canada and Arctic Biological Station.. National Museum of Natural Sciences Syllogeus 52 RWED Library QL 626.5 . N67D57 - BSC5 Return
  • Coad B.W. and Reist J.D. (2004) Annotated List of the Arctic Marine Fishes of Canada.. DFO, Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2674 - R131 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
  • Hunter, J.G., Leach, S.T. McAllister, D.E. and Steigerwald, M.B. (1984) A distributional atlas of records of the marine fishes of Arctic Canada in the Naitonal Museums of Canada and Arctic Biological Station.. National Museum of Natural Sciences Syllogeus 52 RWED Library QL 626.5 . N67D57 - BSC5 Return
  • FishBase (2004) Fish Base, accessed Nov 5, 2004. Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2004 www.fishbase.org, version (09/2004) - W017 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

Historical Distribution

  • 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

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • 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

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
  • Johnson, L. (1980) The Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus.. Dr. W. Junk BV Publishers, P.O. Box 13713 2501 ES The Hague, The Netherlands In: Charrs. Salmonid fishes of the genus Salvelinus. ed. Balon,EK. Perspectives in vertebrate science. 1:15 - 98 - B064 Return

NWT Known Subspecies

McPhail JD (1961) A systematic study of the Salvelinus alpinus complex in North America. . Fisheries Research Board of Canada Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada 18:793-816. - B062 Return
,
Reist, JD (1989) Genetic stucture of allopatric populations and sympatric life history types of charr, Salvelinus alpinus/malma, in the Western Arctic, Canada.. Physiol. Ecol. Japan Physiol. Ecol. Japan, Spec. Vol. 1: 405-420. - B063 Return
,
Coad B.W. and Reist J.D. (2004) Annotated List of the Arctic Marine Fishes of Canada.. DFO, Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2674 - R131 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

  • 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
  • Hunter, J.G., Leach, S.T. McAllister, D.E. and Steigerwald, M.B. (1984) A distributional atlas of records of the marine fishes of Arctic Canada in the Naitonal Museums of Canada and Arctic Biological Station.. National Museum of Natural Sciences Syllogeus 52 RWED Library QL 626.5 . N67D57 - BSC5 Return
  • Crossman, E. J. (1991) Introduced freshwater fishes: a review of the North American perspective with emphasis on Canada. Can.J.Fish.Aquat.Sci. 48 (Suppl. 1),(pages 46- 57) - A140 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
,
Coad B.W. and Reist J.D. (2004) Annotated List of the Arctic Marine Fishes of Canada.. DFO, Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2674 - R131 Return
,
FishBase (2004) Fish Base, accessed Nov 5, 2004. Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2004 www.fishbase.org, version (09/2004) - W017 Return

Range Extent

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

  • 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
  • Coad B.W. and Reist J.D. (2004) Annotated List of the Arctic Marine Fishes of Canada.. DFO, Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2674 - R131 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
  • McPhail JD (1961) A systematic study of the Salvelinus alpinus complex in North America. . Fisheries Research Board of Canada Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada 18:793-816. - B062 Return
  • Fish Base (1999) FishBase 99. http://www.cgiar.org/iclarm/fishbase/ - W012 Return

Threats

  • 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