Atlantic whitefish  (Coregonus huntsmani)

The landlocked populations of the Atlantic whitefish feed on small fish and aquatic insects (2). Historical records describing the stomach contents of individuals caught in the marine environment indicate that shrimp, amphipods, fish, and marine worms formed the bulk of this species’ diet (4).

As its eggs are not saltwater tolerant, the Atlantic whitefish must spawn in freshwater (4). Historical records indicate that after spending the summer in coastal waters, the Atlantic whitefish would migrate upstream during late September to October (1) (4). Today, however, spawning migrations do not occur, and as wild individuals have not yet been observed to spawn in the wild, knowledge about this species’ reproduction is primarily limited to observations of captive specimens. These specimens produce eggs from late November to early January, and studies of the eggs in culture indicate that they sink to the bottom and may adhere to surrounding objects. The larvae hatch after around 260 days, which would correspond to the months of April and May in the wild. The young reach maturity at around 2 years old, at 20 centimetres in length. In the wild, the Atlantic whitefish is believed to live for four to five years (4).