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Note: species status as presented within publications may have changed since the publication date. Current general and detailed status is listed for each species.
Fish – General
Species at risk program reports
No.14 – Cumulative Effects of Watershed Disturbances on Fish Communities in the Kakwa and Simonette Watersheds – Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 14, prepared by T. Thera and A. Wildeman. Progress Report for Study No. 3 of the Northern Watershed Project.
No.45 – Fish Species at Risk in the Milk and St.Mary Drainages – Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 45, by RL&L Environmental Services Ltd. (A member of the Golder Group of Companies)
No. 170 – Quirk Creek fisheries data series—summary and analysis – Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 170, by R.N. Sinnatamby, A. Cantin and J.R. Post
No. 173 – Alberta Native Trout Science Workshop Proceedings: February 1-3, 2023 – Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 173, by A.J. Paul, B.C. Kissinger and J. Goehing
Related information
Arctic Grayling
Scientific Name: Thymallus arcticus
General Status: Sensitive
Detailed Status: Species of Special Concern
Summary
The Arctic grayling is designated as a Species of Special Concern in Alberta as a result of its vulnerability to angling pressure and habitat destruction.
The Fisheries Management Division first developed a species management and recovery plan in 1997; the status of various populations is under review and an updated management plan is being written.
Preliminary indications are that the species has not responded to the 30 centimetre minimum size limit (with a daily limit of five grayling) introduced in 1987.
Detailed status report
Status of the Arctic Grayling in Alberta: Update 2015 – Alberta Wildlife Status Report No. 57 (Update 2015), prepared by C.L. Cahill
Related information
Fish - General – See Alberta Species at Risk Report 14
Arctic Grayling (Thymallus arcticus)
Athabasca Rainbow Trout
Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus mykiss
General Status: At Risk
Detailed Status: Threatened
Detailed status report
Status of the Athabasca Rainbow Trout in Alberta – Alberta Wildlife Status Report No. 66, prepared by J.B. Rasmussen and E.B. Taylor
Recovery plan
Alberta Athabasca Rainbow Trout Recovery Plan 2014 to 2019 – Alberta Species at Risk Recovery Plan No. 36, prepared by the Alberta Athabasca Rainbow Trout Recovery Team
Recovery action summary
Athabasca Rainbow Trout Recovery Action Summary 2013 to 2014 – Alberta Species at Risk 2013 – 2014 Recovery Action Summary
Brassy Minnow
Scientific Name: Hybognathus hankinsoni
General Status: Undetermined
Detailed Status: N/A
Summary
The brassy minnow is known from a few locations in the Milk River drainage and some isolated locations in northern Alberta only.
Detailed status report
Status of the Brassy Minnow in Alberta – Alberta Wildlife Status Report No. 68, prepared by D.S. Radford and M. Sullivan
Bull Trout
Scientific Name: Salvelinus confluentus
General Status: Sensitive
Detailed Status: Threatened
Summary
The bull trout is listed as a Threatened species in Alberta.
A Bull Trout Species Management and Recovery Plan was prepared in 1995; subsequently, the status of various populations was reviewed in greater detail and an updated conservation management plan was published in March 2012. A zero limit has been placed on bull trout in Alberta until such time as there is a harvestable surplus.
A major information and education initiative has been ongoing since the 1995 management plan was completed. The slogan "No black, put it back!" has been developed to reinforce the zero catch limit, as bull trout do not have any black spots or marks on their dorsal fins.
Trout Unlimited Canada has embarked on an extensive sign campaign along streams throughout the entire eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta to caution anglers not to keep any bull trout.
Detailed status report
Status of the Bull Trout in Alberta – Alberta Wildlife Status Report No. 39, 2009 update prepared by M. Rodtka
Archived detailed status report
Status of the Bull Trout in Alberta – Alberta Wildlife Status Report No. 39, prepared by J.R. Post and F.D. Johnston
Management plan
Bull Trout Conservation Management Plan 2012-2017 – Alberta Species at Risk Conservation Management Plan No. 8, prepared by K. Rees, I. Girard, D. Walty and D. Christiansen
Recovery plan
Alberta Bull Trout Recovery Plan – Alberta Species at Risk Recovery Plan No. 46, prepared by Alberta Environment and Protected Areas
Species at Risk Implementation Reports
Species at Risk Implementation Report – Rocky Creek Bull Trout Recovery Project
Species at Risk Implementation Report – Fall Creek Reclamation Project
Related information
Fish, General – See Alberta Species at Risk Reports 14 and 170
Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus)
Deepwater Sculpin
Scientific Name: Myoxocephalus thompsoni
General Status: Undetermined
Detailed Status: In Process
Summary
The deepwater sculpin is not yet classified, but its status is of some concern. It is known only from Waterton Lakes in Waterton Lakes National Park.
This species has been assessed by COSEWIC and found to be Not At Risk in Canada.
Lake Sturgeon
Scientific Name: Acipenser fulvescens
General Status: Undetermined
Detailed Status: Threatened
Summary
This long-lived, slowly reproducing species has been experiencing long-term declines. In 2007 it was designated a Threatened species under Alberta's Wildlife Act, and also in 2007, COSEWIC recommended an Endangered designation for the Saskatchewan River population in Canada (pending listing under the Species at Risk Act).
In Alberta, a recovery plan is under development; an earlier Lake Sturgeon Management Plan was completed in 1996. The lake sturgeon populations in the North and South Saskatchewan rivers are being managed under different regulations starting in 1997. There is a zero catch limit is in effect for sturgeon in both the North Saskatchewan and South Saskatchewan Rivers.
Detailed status report
Status of the Lake Sturgeon in Alberta – Alberta Wildlife Status Report No. 46, prepared by Suzanne Earl
Recovery plan
Alberta Lake Sturgeon Recovery Plan 2011 -2016 – Alberta Species at Risk Recovery Plan No. 22, prepared by the Alberta Lake Sturgeon Recovery Team
Species at risk program reports
No.9 – Survey of the Lake Sturgeon Fishery on the South Saskatchewan River, Alberta – Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 9, by L.A. Winkel
Related information
Pygmy Whitefish
Scientific Name: Prosopium coulteri
General Status: May Be At Risk
Detailed Status: Threatened
Summary
The pygmy whitefish is known from Waterton Lakes and a few locations in the Athabasca River drainage. Very little is known about the biology of this species in Alberta.
In 2000, this species was designated a Data Deficient species by the Endangered Species Conservation Committee. Small numbers were captured during targeted field work over several years, enabling a re-evaluation of the species' status, which resulted in its listing as a Threatened species in 2014.
Detailed status report
Status of the Pygmy Whitefish in Alberta – Alberta Wildlife Status Report No. 27, 2011 update prepared by M. Sullivan
Archived detailed status report
Status of the Pygmy Whitefish in Alberta – Alberta Wildlife Status Report No. 27, prepared by W.C. Mackay
Recovery plan and action summary
Alberta Pygmy Whitefish Recovery Plan – Alberta Pygmy Whitefish Recovery Plan No. 41, prepared by Alberta Environment and Parks
Species at Risk 2013-14 Recovery Action Summary: Pygmy Whitefish
Pygmy Whitefish Recovery Plan summary of public response
Rocky Mountain Sculpin
Scientific Name: Cottus sp.
Previous Common Names: St. Mary shorthead sculpin, eastslope sculpin
General Status: Sensitive
Detailed Status: Threatened
Detailed status report
Note: Status Report in 2004 referred to this species by its former common name, St. Mary shorthead sculpin
Status of the St. Mary Shorthead Sculpin in Alberta – Alberta Wildlife Status Report No. 51, prepared by S. Pollard
Recovery plan
Alberta Recovery Plan for At-Risk Fish Species in the Milk and St. Mary Rivers - Alberta Species at Risk Recovery Plan No. 45, prepared by Alberta Environment and Protected Areas
Related information
Fish, General – See Alberta Species at Risk Report 45
Species at Risk – General: MULTISAR Reports
Shortjaw Cisco
Scientific Name: Coregonus zenithicus
General Status: At Risk
Detailed Status: Threatened
Summary
In Alberta, this species only occurs in one location, Barrow Lake, found in northeastern Alberta. It was designated as Threatened in Alberta in 2007; this species occurs in several provinces outside of Alberta and is also listed as Threatened under the federal Species at Risk Act.
A provincial recovery plan was approved in 2007 and is now in the implementation stage. Federal recovery planning is in process.
Detailed status report
Status of the Shortjaw Cisco in Alberta – Alberta Wildlife Status Report No. 41, prepared by Mark Steinhilber
Recovery plan and action summary
Alberta Shortjaw Cisco Recovery Plan 2013-2023 – Alberta Species at Risk Recovery Plan No. 32, prepared by Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development
2013-14 Recovery Action Summary-Shortjaw Cisco
Species at risk program reports
No.3 – Distribution and relative abundance of the shortjaw cisco (Coregonus zenithicus) in Alberta – Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 3, by M. Steinhilber and L. Rhude
No.82 – Shortjaw Cisco Species at Risk Assessment – Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 82, prepared by M. Steinhilber
Related information
Species at Risk – General: MULTISAR Reports – See Alberta Species at Risk Report 141
Stonecat
Scientific Name: Noturus flavus
General Status: At Risk
Detailed Status: Threatened
Summary
In Alberta, this species only occurs in the Milk River drainage. It was designated as Threatened in Alberta in 2007.
Detailed status report
Status of the Stonecat in Alberta – Alberta Wildlife Status Report No. 52, prepared by S.Pollard
Recovery Plan
Alberta Recovery Plan for At-Risk Fish Species in the Milk and St. Mary Rivers - Alberta Species at Risk Recovery Plan No. 45, prepared by Alberta Environment and Protected Areas
Related information
Fish, General – See Alberta Species at Risk Report 45
Species at Risk – General: MULTISAR Reports
Western Silvery Minnow
Scientific Name: Hybognathus argyritis
General Status: At Risk
Detailed Status: Threatened
Summary
Little is known about the biology of western silvery minnow. It was designated as Threatened in Alberta in 2007, and is also listed as Threatened under the federal Species at Risk Act. An amended federal recovery strategy was finalized in 2017.
Detailed status report
Status of the Western Silvery Minnow in Alberta – Alberta Wildlife Status Report No. 47, prepared by S. Pollard
Recovery plan
Alberta Recovery Plan for At-Risk Fish Species in the Milk and St. Mary Rivers - Alberta Species at Risk Recovery Plan No. 45, prepared by Alberta Environment and Protected Areas
Related information
Fish, General – See Alberta Species at Risk Report 45
Species at Risk – General: MULTISAR Reports
Westslope Cutthroat Trout
Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisii
General Status: At Risk
Detailed Status: Threatened
Summary
Although some introduced populations or stocks of cutthroat trout are sustainable, pure native stocks, known as westslope cutthroat trout, are at risk because of their restricted and fragmented distribution and declines from hybridization, changes to habitats, and harvest though angling.
Westslope Cutthroat Trout are listed as Threatened in Alberta under the Wildlife Act, and federally under the Species at Risk Act.
Joint provincial and federal recovery plans have been developed and Alberta is implementing actions to promote recovery of the species collaboratively with partners and stakeholders.
Detailed status report
Status of the Westslope Cutthroat Trout in Alberta – Alberta Wildlife Status Report No. 61, prepared by A.Costello
Recovery plan and action summary
Alberta Westslope Cutthroat Trout Recovery Plan 2012-2017 – Alberta Species at Risk Recovery Plan No. 28, prepared by the Alberta Westslope Cutthroat Trout Recovery Team
Alberta Westslope Cutthroat Trout Recovery Action Summary 2014 – 15
Species at Risk Recovery Action Summary – Westslope Cutthroat Trout 2017-22
Related information
Fish. General – See Alberta Species at Risk Report 170