Fish

Thirty native freshwater fish species are present in Newfoundland and Labrador’s waterways, plus two exotic species. Eighteen species are found in Newfoundland and 26 in Labrador.

  • A new species, Log Perch, was found in southwestern Labrador (Grant 2001). Biologists believe there is much potential to find new species in areas yet not surveyed in southeastern and northern Labrador.
  • Banded Killifish is the only freshwater species assessed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), being listed as a Species of Special Concern.

Highlights from the 2000 Freshwater Fish General Status Assessments

  • No freshwater fish have been ranked as At Risk, or were designated May Be at Risk;
  • Three out of 18 Newfoundland Species are considered Sensitive;
  • Eight out of 26 Labrador species were considered Undetermined;
  • 60% of native freshwater fish in Newfoundland are Secure, and 68% of Labrador Species are Secure.

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2000 General Status of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Freshwater Fish

Family Common Name Scientific Name Newfoundland Labrador Provincal
Order: Acipenseriformes – Sturgeons
Acipenseridae Atlantic Sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus Undetermined Undetermined
Order: Anguilliformes- True Eels
Anguillidae American Eel Anguilla rostrata Secure Secure Secure
Order: Clupeiformes- Herrings & Allies
Clupeidae Alewife Alosa pseudoharengus Secure Undetermined Secure
American Shad Alosa sapidissima Secure Undetermined Secure
Order: Cypriniformes- Minnows & Allies
Castostomidae Longnose Sucker Catostomus catostomus Secure Secure
White Sucker Catostomus commersoni Secure Listed as a Species of Special Concern by the Province
Cyprinidae Lake Chub Couesius plumbeus Undetermined Undetermined
Longnose Dace Rhinichthys cataractae Undetermined Undetermined
Pearl Dace Semotilus margarita Undetermined Undetermined
Order: Cyprinodontiformes- Killifishes
Cyprinodontidae Banded Killifish Fundulus diaphanus Sensitive Sensitive
Mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus Sensitive Sensitive
Order: Gadiformes- Cods & Allies
Gadidae Atlantic Tomcod Microgadus tomcod Secure Secure Secure
Burbot Lota lota Secure Secure
Order: Gasterosteiformes- Sticklebacks, Pipefishes & Allies
Gasterosteidae Blackspotted Stickleback Gasterosteus wheatlandi Undetermined Undetermined
Fourspine Stickleback Apeltes quadracus Undetermined Undetermined
Ninespine Stickleback Pungitius pungitius Undetermined Secure Secure
Threespine Stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus Secure Secure Secure
Order: Perciformes-Perches & Many Allies
Percidae Logperch Percina caprodes Undetermined Undetermined
Order: Petromyzontiformes- Lampreys
Petromyzontidae Sea Lamprey Petromyzon marinus Sensitive Accidental Sensitive
Order: Salmoniformes- Salmon & Allies
Esocidae Northern Pike Esox lucius Secure Secure
Osmeridae Rainbow Smelt Osmerus mordax Secure Secure Secure
Salmonidae Arctic Char Salvelinus alpinus Secure Secure Secure
Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar Secure Secure Secure
Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis Secure Secure Secure
Brown Trout Salmo trutta Exotic Exotic
Lake Trout Salvelinus namaycush Secure Secure
Lake Whitefish Coregonus clupeaformis Exotic Secure Secure
Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus myksis Exotic Exotic
Round Whitefish Prosopium cylindraceum Secure Secure
Order: Scorpaeniformes- Scorpionfishes & Allies
Cottidae Fourhorn Sculpin Myoxocephalus quadricornis Undetermined Undetermined
Mottled Sculpin Cottus bairdi Secure Secure
Slimy Sculpin Cottus cognatus Secure Secure

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2000 General Status Ranks Summary for Newfoundland and Labrador Freshwater Fish

Family Common Name Scientific Name Newfoundland Labrador Provincal
Extinct/Extirpated 0 0 0
At Risk 0 0 0
May be at Risk 0 0 0
Sensitive 3 0 3
Secure 9 17 19
Undetermined 3 8 8
Not Assessed 0 0 0
Exotic 3 0 2
Accidental 0 1 0
Grand Total 18 26 32

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