Aquatic Species at Risk - Eulachon

Description
Habitat
Threats
Further Information
Scientific Information

Description

Eulachon are anadromous fish endemic to the Northeastern Pacific, and are one of the ten smelt species in the Family Osmeridae.  This species is also referred to as candlefish, oolichan, and ooligan, amongst others.

Eulachon are small and usually less than 20 cm in length; they resemble a small salmon, with an adipose fin and long anal fin, but with a smaller head, more slender body, and without a fleshy flap at the base of the pelvic fin.  Eulachon have distinctive lines on the gill covers.

Habitat

Eulachon are found throughout the Northeast Pacific from the eastern Bering Sea to Northern California.  They spend more than 95 percent of their life in the marine environment, and only enter freshwater systems during spawning, egg and early larval stages.  Within British Columbia, Eulachon occur in at least 38 glacially fed rivers.

Threats

The factors causing the coast wide decline of Eulachon populations are unclear.  Threats to individuals as well as their habitat occur in both freshwater and marine environments. 

Presently, commercial fisheries for Eulachon are closed.  Historically, commercial fisheries existed on the Fraser, Nass, Skeena, Klinaklini, and Kingcome Rivers.  Recreational fishing in freshwater systems with nets is prohibited and tidal water recreational harvesting is open in areas that do not show conservation concerns. First Nation fisheries for Eulachon once occurred on many rivers, but many are currently closed due to declines in runs.  Eulachon is incidentally caught in commercial fisheries, primarily the shrimp trawl and groundfish trawl. 

Habitat degradation occurs at a local scale and varies between spawning rivers.  Activities likely to impact Eulachon mortality include dredging, industrial and agricultural pollution, shoreline development, and forestry. However, it is unlikely that such threats would explain the nearly synchronous coast-wide decline of Eulachon that has occurred.

Climate change effects may impact both the marine and freshwater habitats.

Further Information

Eulachon was assessed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) in May 2011 as three Designatable Units (DU) within British Columbia waters. These three DUs, or populations, were designated as the Fraser River population (assessed as Endangered), the Central Pacific Coast population (Endangered), and the Nass/Skeena Rivers population (Threatened). In November 2011, COSEWIC considered new information on the Nass/Skeena Rivers population and is now reassessing that population.  Eulachon are not listed under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.  However, the Province of British Columbia ‘blue’ listed Eulachon in 2000, identifying them as particularly sensitive to human activities or natural events.  In 2010, the United States listed the southern Eulachon population as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

Since 1995, DFO has undertaken specific activities to protect Eulachon including closure of the commercial Eulachon fishery on the Fraser; suspension of dredging on the Fraser River during Eulachon spawning season; closure of the shrimp fishery in Queen Charlotte Sound; implementation of bycatch reduction measures in the commercial shrimp trawl fishery including bycatch reduction devices and potential closures when cumulative Eulachon bycatch level is reached; closure of recreational fishing in Areas 6-10 and 28-29; and an annual egg/larval survey to monitor stock on the Fraser River in conjunction with First Nations.

The Fraser River and Central Pacific Coast populations of Eulachon are currently being considered for listing under the Species at Risk Act (SARA).  The Nass/Skeena Rivers population will not enter the SARA listing process until the Government of Canada receives the COSEWIC reassessment for this population.  Formal consultations on the Nass/Skeena Rivers Eulachon population will proceed after the reassessment of that population by COSEWIC has been completed in Fall 2012.  DFO invites all First Nations, stakeholders and members of the public to provide their opinions and feedback in the listing decision. For more information, please visit the SARA regional consultations website or the SARA Registry. 

Scientific Information

Scientific name: Thaleichthys pacificus
SARA Status: Under consideration for listing
COSEWIC Status:

• Nass/Skeena Rivers populations (currently being reassessed)
• Central Pacific Coast populations (Endangered)
• Fraser River Population (Endangered)

Occurrence: British Columbia, Pacific Ocean