Arctic char

(also known as Aniaq, Aopalayâk, Angmalook, Aupalijaat, Awanans, Eekallûk, Eekalook, Ekalluk, Ekalukpik, Ekaluppik, Erlakukpik, Evitaruk, Hiwiterro, I ha look, Ihkaluk, Ikalopik, Ikalukpik, Ikalupik, Iqalukpiaryuk, Ivitaaruq, Kaloarpok, Kavasilik, Nutiliarjuk, Qaluaqpak, Situliqtuq, and Tisujuittuq among others in Canada; Arctic charr in Canada, the UK, and the Russian Federation; alpine char in the UK and Russian Federation; and char or charr in the USA and UK)

Salvelinus alpinus alpinus   (Linnaeus, 1758)

"The Arctic char, Salvelinus alpinus, is present in North America in both the anadromous (seagoing) and the nonanadromous (freshwater resident) forms. Local names include sea-run, ilkalupik, martson trout, Quebec red trout, and blueback trout. It is distributed throughout the polar regions and is the most northerly distributed of char and its closely related cousin, the Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma Walbaum). It was only in the 1980s that taxonomists established the relationship between these species in North America. This relationship, however, is still under consideration by some scientists."

"There are some external characteristics which can be used to differentiate between Arctic char and Dolly Varden. Arctic char generally have a shorter head and snout, a trait particularly evident in spawning males. The tail of an Arctic char has a slightly deeper fork than that of a Dolly Varden, and the base of the Arctic char's tail is narrower."

"General description: Like all chars, Arctic char have light colored spots on a dark background. They are variable in color depending on environmental conditions within their lake of residence and time of year. The back is dark with a brownish or olive cast. The sides are lighter, fading to a pale belly. The overall color may be brown, yellow, gold, orange, or red. As the char approaches spawning, the spots, belly, and fins take on a bright orange, red, or gold cast, and the lower fins have brilliant white leading edges. The entire body may become golden or orange. Spawning colors are more exaggerated in males than in females."

"Range: Arctic char range across the northern polar regions. In Alaska, they are known to occur only in the lake resident form. Arctic char are found in lakes in the Brooks Range, the Kigluaik Mountains, the Kuskokwim Mountains, the Alaska Peninsula, Kenai Peninsula, Kodiak Island, and in a small area of Interior Alaska near Denali Park."

"Life history: Little is known about the life history of Arctic char in Alaska lakes. However, in other areas, char often exist in two different forms in the same lake. These forms are usually described as "dwarf' and "normal." The forms show differences in habitat and food selection, resulting in different growth rates, size at maturity, and average size. After reaching sexual maturity at an age of 6 to 9 years, Arctic char are thought to spawn every other year. Spawning usually occurs from August through October, probably over steep, broken substrates or gravel shoals at sufficient depth to be protected from winter ice. In some lakes, pre-spawning char congregate near inlet streams or waterways connecting lakes, but they move back into the lake to spawn. Growth and maximum size may vary greatly, depending on the productivity of the particular lake and the presence of other fish species. Fish over 10 pounds are not uncommon in some Alaska lakes, while other lakes may not produce fish over 2 pounds even though fish may reach great age."

Text from Fred DeCicco at the State of Alaska site

The Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) has the most northerly distribution of any of the freshwater fish. It is the dominant species of the Arctic coast, and for centuries has been an important food resource of the Inuit. However, only since the late 1940s has it been caught commercially and shipped south to become a gourmet restaurant item in many large North American cities. Recent fisheries statistics indicate that, after the whitefish, it is the second most valuable catch in the Northwest Territories.

The magnificent coloration, excellent quality of flesh, fighting spirit, and relative inaccessibility of this fish have combined to make it a highly desirable quarry for many affluent North American anglers. Unfortunately, increased fishing pressure added to resource development in the Arctic pose a threat to char populations.

Arctic char are streamlined fish and typically trout like. They belong to the char group of the salmon family and there are two subgroups - a sea-run group and a freshwater or land-locked group. The sea-run fish are larger, commonly weighing 2.3 to 4.5 kg, while the lake dwellers range in weight from 0.2 to 2.3 kg. The largest Arctic char on record was caught in Tree River, N.W.T, in 1970 and weighed 12.2 kg.

The color of these fish is extremely variable. Sea-run adults are commonly deep blue or blue-green over the back, shading to glistening silver on the sides and white over the belly. A distinguishing feature is a series of large, round spots, usually violet-pink, scattered on the sides. Breeding fish of both subgroups exhibit brilliant red coloration on the sides, underparts, and lower fins.

Circumpolar in distribution, Arctic char are native to far northern streams and lakes of North America, Asia, Europe, Iceland and Greenland. They are found in North America from Alaska around the Bering Sea and along the Arctic coast as far as Baffin Island. Except in the larger rivers, they seldom range far inland, although there are a few pockets of freshwater char as far south as Newfoundland, New Brunswick and the lakes of southeastern Quebec. In the Northwest Territories, their distribution includes most coastal rivers, some coastal lakes, the streams of the high Arctic islands and several islands in Hudson Bay.

Char fisheries at Rankin Inlet, Cambridge Bay, Pelly Bay and Nettilling Lake account for most of the commercial catch, which is taken with gillnets. Sea-run fish are the principal target of the sport fishermen, who catch them mainly in late summer and early fall when, after a summer of feeding at sea, they are heaviest. Most of the sport fishing occurs in coastal streams in the vicinity of Rankin Inlet, in streams entering Coronation and Queen Maud Gulf, and on Baffin Island.

Arctic char is marketed mainly fresh and frozen as whole dressed fish and steaks. A small quantity is canned. In whatever form, it is a highly priced delicacy. The flesh varies in color and may be red, pink or white, with the red commanding the highest price. Tastewise, it is said to combine the delicious flavors of brook trout and salmon.

Information from Fisheries and Oceans Canada Underwater World

Photo by Johnny  Jensen