Arctic Char

Salvelinus Alpinus

Arctic Char are members of the Salmonidae Family of fish, and are very closely related to salmon and trout. This species of Char lives the furthest north of any of the other species of Char. Arctic Char are anadromous (seagoing), and nonanadromous (live in fresh water). The environment that they live in determines greatly their coloration.

Arctic Char in Alaska are found only in lakes. The lakes in which they live determine their size. The largest Arctic Char caught in Alaska come from the Brooks Range. Arctic Char can also be caught in Alaska in the Kigluaik Mountains, Kuskokwim Mountains, Alaska Peninsula, Kenai Peninsula, Kodiak Island and in lakes in The Denali Park. Most Arctic Char reach an average size of about 2-5#, however, they can grow as large as 10#.

Arctic Char become sexually mature between the ages of 6-9. They are believed to spawn every year. Like the salmon, they have the instinct to return to the same place where they were born to spawn, however, since many of them have lived in the same lakes their entire life, they don’t go through the struggle that many salmon do. While spawning, their colors change to bright orange and red.

Arctic Char were not fished commercially until the 1940’s. Gillnets are the primary way that these fish are caught commercially.

This species are farm raised in Canada & Norway. They have been listed as a sustainable fish by the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Arctic Char can be found throughout the Arctic. They are even found in some of the lochs in Scotland, remnants of the last ice age. Since the lakes have been separated for thousands of years, these fish have evolved into quite different fish from lake to lake. Global warming is threatening their existence in this area, as this is about as far south as these fish live.

The meat of Arctic Char is somewhat like a cross between a very large trout and a small salmon. This fish is somewhat pricey, but is an excellent fish, and can be prepared in the same ways that you would prepare salmon or trout. The meat can range from light orange to deep red.