Broad whitefish
📖 Overview
Nerito-pelagic . Adults are found in lowland river and lakes but most frequently in streams . Lacustrine and estuarine anadromous forms exist . Alevins and juveniles feed on zooplankton, adults on benthos, mainly chironomid larvae and molluscs . Males reproduce for the first time in 4-8 years, females at 5-9. Adults start upstream migration in late July - August and reach spawning sites by October - November and spawn in stretches with swift current and sand-pebble bottom, often under ice. Spawning lasts 5-7 days and fish leave spawning site soon after, migrating downstream to overwinter in deeper places of lower stretches of rivers together with older juveniles. In spring, alevins drift from spawning sites downstream with flood-water and forage in floodplain lakes and oxbows where they remain until end of summer before moving to river or reaching maturity (if lakes are large enough and do not dry out). Widely used for aquaculture in eastern Europe . Flesh is highly esteemed . Sold fresh, dried, or smoked .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 13; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 11 - 14; Vertebrae: 60 - 65. Distinguished by its short gill rakers, which are less than one-fifth as long as the interorbital width, and the rounded to flat profile of the head . Adipose fin fairly large; axillary process present in the pelvic fins . Olive-brown to nearly black on back; sides silvery, often with a gray cast; belly white to yellowish; fins usually rather gray in adults, pale in young .: fusiform / normal.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Broad whitefish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Broad whitefish is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Mature adults make upstream spawning migrations beginning as early as June and may extend to September or later and move back downstream after spawning and overwinter in deep parts of the rivers or in estuaries . Young hatch in the spring and move downward .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; brackish; pelagic-neritic; anadromous . Polar; 73°N - 59°N, 46°E - 102°W North America: all drainages of Arctic Ocean from Volonga and Pechora to Alaska.
🌿 Ecology
zooplankton, adults on benthos, mainly chironomid larvae and molluscs (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Broad whitefish is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 18.1 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 638 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Broad whitefish has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Broad whitefish · Large Bottom Whitefish |
| 🌍CES | síh nosatý |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Helt · Stor bundhelt |
| 🇩🇪German | Große Bodenrenke · Große Maräne · Sandfelchen · Weißfelchen |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | Pyörökuonosiika |
| 🇫🇷French | corégone tachir · corégone tschir · Fera · Palée du Léman · Poisson Blanc |
| 🌍IKU | Kavasilik · Kavisilik |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Coregone · coregone tozzo |
| 🌍LAV | Čirs |
| 🌍LIT | čyras |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | grote houting |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Czyr |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Coregono-da-vasa |
| 🇷🇺Russian | носун · Чир |
| 🇸🇪Swedish | bredsik |
| 🌍TUR | beyaz balık |
| 🌍UKR | чир |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 寬鼻白鮭 |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 3 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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