ARCTIC CHAR

ENVIRONMENT YUKON

	Camping & Wilderness		Parks & Conservation
	Wildlife & Biodiversity		Monitoring the Environment
	Fishing		Hunting & Trapping
	Education & Youth		Publications, Maps & Data

ARCTIC CHAR
Salvelinus alpinus (Linnaeus). The Arctic char occurs in two principal forms. One migrates into the sea in the summer to feed, but returns to fresh water to pass the winter. The non-anadromous form remains in fresh water throughout its entire life. The Arctic char has an elongate body and in the sea run form is silvery with a deep blue or greenish blue on the back and upper sides. The non-anadromous form varies from dark blue to olive green or brown. Both forms have violet-pink or red spots on the dorsal surface and the sides which are usually larger in diameter than the pupil of the eye. As char approach spawning condition in the autumn, body colours range from bright red to deep vermilion. Adults are sexually mature at 18 inches and fish of over 20 pounds have been caught in Canada. During the winter, char feed little or not at all, but use large fat reserves stored during the previous summer. Arctic char occur in the northern drainages of the Yukon naturally, but are also stocked by the Yukon government in some accessible pothole lakes.