Striped Wolffish

Species at Risk Status: Special Concern

Where do they live?

Striped wolffish are found from the Labrador Shelf to the Grand Banks and to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Scotian Shelf and the Bay of Fundy and into American waters. They are also found in the northeast Atlantic similar distribution to the northern wolffish. They live near shore to a depth of 500 m. 

What do they look like?

The striped wolffish gets its name from the vertical stripes that cover its body. It has a large head relative to body and unlike the northern wolffish its flesh is firm and muscular. It has a row of large tusk-like teeth in the front with smaller canine teeth behind them lining the upper jaw. Crushing teeth are embedded in the roof of the mouth forming a solid plate. The lower jaw has large tusks in front and there are rows of molars behind. Even the throat is lined with teeth. The striped wolffish can reach lengths of approximately 150 centimetres and weights of around 23 kilograms.

What do they eat?

With its prominent, canine-like teeth in the front of its jaws, the striped wolffish preys mainly on other bottom-dwelling creatures such as sea urchins, starfish, shellfish and molluscs. The wolffish also eats fish, worms, and sometimes even algae.

What is its life cycle?

Striped wolffish grow relatively slowly. The females lay the eggs as a mass in crevasses which the males guard.

Why is it at risk?

Striped wolffish declined by about 90 per cent from the late 1970s through the early 1990s on the Labrador Shelf. While they are not a direct target of commercial fisheries, the striped wolffish is often caught incidentally along with other fish such as Atlantic and northern wolffish. Fishing practices, such as the use of various fishing gear can disturb their habitat. T

What's being done?

The striped wolffish are considered a species of Special Concern and are protected under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA