submitted by Chewy LTD
Collaborated with Dan Hodnett
Nov. 7, 2019
Due to the fact that Canadians can not keep Native Fish except for certain Bait Fish species under the bait fish of the Ontario Fishing licence where they are able to keep only native species to that region (no other province). It is one of my projects to help educate Canadians about Native species that are either prohibited (due to some are thought to be invasive) or due to our law in Canada where we are not allowed to keep any native fish except under permit that can survive in our water ways. I do believe that the Channa (Snakehead) prohibition is being also disputed especially the species that are from India and Africa that Chris Biggs has spoken about on a live on his channel. So far no real word has been put out but it is actually contested due to the fact that none of those fish could survive most of Canada’s winters. I am waiting to hear from Chris Biggs as to my question about why some of the Native Species are not on the CARES list that are endangered that there are fish in the hobby that are kept by people in North American Native Fish Association . It is an interesting question to say the least as those fish could be kept outside in fish ponds. Perhaps it may have to do with the US Fish And Wildlife however various different endangered Pupfish are on The CARES Preservation Program list. that are threatened in their waterways.
Your Native Land and its water ways represent the natural evolution of how the planet developed over several years that are too high to count. This duration of time allowed both fauna and flora species to evolve and to open up another topic for the SLC Aquatics Newsletter. I decided to put together this article dealing with some of the piscine species that are natural species to the area of Canada as a whole, although some native fish may be introduced to other waters in Canada by the federal or provincial government. Very few people can legally keep Canadian species except for those in Ontario under the Bait fish licence of that province. None of the other provinces are allowed to keep any native species unless they have special permits that may be guided from province to province. This is the Bait Fish that those who want to keep Native fish in Ontario. However they must have a registered fishing licence with the province of Ontario.
In saying that, the other provinces have got their laws involved in the species in which the angler has to abide by catch limits and the species that they are allowed to catch and take home and eat for human consumption. So in a presentation, I decided to educate the YouTube @Fishfam. I looked at certain extant, endangered and extinct species to inform the viewing audience about some of the fish that inhabit some of the waterways in Canada. The presentation also includes original music to best describe the land of Canada for the listening audience. The presentation is in memory of Gord Downie, (RIP) the lead singer of the Tragically Hip.
If you have not seen #Canada in #Native #Freshwater #Fish Native Land #LunaticFringe Demo and Promo, the link is below
#Canada in #Native #Freshwater #Fish Native Land #LunaticFringe Demo and Promo
It is not surprising that some of the species that inhabit the Canadian Waterways have other population points in the United States. So lets take a look at the species of fish that are presented here.
1. First off the Arctic Grayling (Thymallus arcticus) that inhabits the waterways of northern B.C. from the Peace and Stikine rivers north and in the south in the flathead river. The general habitat is the clear waters of large, cold rivers, rocky creeks and lakes. A very beautiful fish and is commonly consumed by the northern BC population of fishermen and those that visit Northen B.C on Fishing Trips.
2. The Bowfin (Amia calva) are demersal freshwater piscivores native to North America, and commonly found throughout much of the eastern United States, and in southern Ontario and Quebec.
3. The brook stickleback (Culaea inconstans) is a small freshwater fish that is distributed across the US and Canada. It grows to a length of about 2 inches. It occupies the northern part of the eastern United States, as well as the southern half of Canada.
4. Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) is native to Eastern North America in the United States and Canada, but has been introduced elsewhere in North America, to Iceland, Europe, and Asia.
5. The smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) of the order Perciformes. It is the type species of its genus. One of the black basses, it is a popular game fish sought by anglers throughout the temperate zones of North America, and has been spread by stocking as well as illegal introduction to many cool-water tributaries and lakes in Canada and more so introduced in the United States. The maximum recorded size is approximately 27 inches and 12 pounds. The smallmouth bass is native to the upper and middle Mississippi River basin, the Saint Lawrence River and Great Lakes system, and up into the Hudson Bay basin. Its common names include smallmouth, bronzeback, brown bass, brownie, smallie, bronze bass, and bareback bass.
6. The bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) is found in the cold, clear waters of the high mountains and coastal rivers of northwestern North America, including Yukon, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and western Montana, as well as the Jarbidge River of northern Nevada. A population of bull trout exists east of the Continental Divide in Alberta, where it is the provincial fish. The historical range of bull trout also included northern California, but they are likely extirpated.
7. Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) are native to the Nearctic, being well distributed in lower Canada and the eastern and northern United States, as well as parts of northern Mexico.
8. The common carp or European carp (Cyprinus carpio) is a widespread freshwater fish of eutrophic waters in lakes and large rivers in Europe and Asia. The native wild populations are considered vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Information about the Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio), a warm-water fish introduced to Ontario by the government. The species is not a natural species to Canadian waters but was introduced into the the Great Lakes region from the upper St. Lawrence River to Lake Superior. At the time that this article was written a debate about Exotic Species and what to do with them has been discussed through many YouTube Channels and many of the Exotics in various different places have been introduced for the fisherman for Human consumption.
9. The flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) also called by several common names including mudcat or shovelhead cat, is a large species of North American freshwater catfish in the family Ictaluridae. It is the only species of the genus Pylodictis. Ranging from the lower Great Lakes region to northern Mexico. It has been widely introduced and is an invasive species in some areas. The closest living relative of the flathead catfish is the much smaller widemouth blindcat, Satan eurystomus.
10. The green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) of order Perciformes. A panfish popular with anglers, the green sunfish is also kept as an aquarium fish by hobbyist. The green sunfish is native to a wide area of North America east of the Rocky Mountains, from the Hudson Bay basin in Canada, to the Gulf Coast in the United States, and northern Mexico.
11. The lake chub (Couesius plumbeus) is a freshwater cyprinid fish found in Canada and in parts of the United States. Of all North American minnows, it is the one with the northernmost distribution. Its genus, Couesius is considered monotypic today. The genus was named after Dr. Elliott Coues, who collected the holotype specimen.
12. Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides are native to North America, and its native range was generally restricted to the fresh waters of eastern-central North America including the lower Great Lakes. Largemouth Bass is a freshwater fish that has currently, a distribution similar to the smallmouth bass in Canada, although it is not found in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, or Prince Edward Island and probably not in Newfoundland. It is probably best known in the Kawartha and Rideau Lakes in Ontario. In B.C., Largemouth Bass are found in the Columbia River system including, Vaseaux, Osoyoos, Christina and Kootenay lakes.
13. Bluegill (Lepomus macrochirus) a warm-water fish native to Ontario. They are plentiful in many southern Ontario waters.
14. The Longnose Gar (Lepisosteus osseus) is found in the St. Lawrence River, along the eastern seaboard, Quebec and all the Great Lakes except Superior. They prefer slow moving water in large rivers, lakes and streams. They are found in both freshwater and saltwater .
15. Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) a cool-water fish native to Ontario. The species are found from the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes basin, north to Lake Nipissing and west to Lake of the Woods.
16. Northern Pike (Esox lucius) a cool-water fish native to Ontario and is widely distributed throughout most of the province although it is not historically found in parts of central Ontario but gradually expanding into these areas. The Northern Pike is also considered an invasive species in the province of British Columbia and the BC Government has got a $10.00 bounty on the head of A Pike. See information below B.C. offers bounty to encourage pike fishing
17. The pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) a warm-water fish native to Ontario.
18. The rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is native only to the rivers and lakes of North America, west of the Rocky Mountains, but its value as a hard-fighting game fish and tasty meal has led to its introduction throughout the world.
19. The smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) of the order Perciformes. It is the type species of its genus. One of the black basses, it is a popular game fish sought by anglers throughout the temperate zones of North America, and has been spread by stocking as well as illegal introduction to many cool-water tributaries and lakes in Canada and more so introduced in the United States. The maximum recorded size is approximately 27 inches and 12 pounds. The smallmouth bass is native to the upper and middle Mississippi River basin, the Saint Lawrence Riverâ; Great Lakes system, and up into the Hudson Bay basin. Its common names include smallmouth, bronzeback, brown bass, brownie, smallie, bronze bass, and bareback bass.
20. The spotted gar (Lepisosteus oculatus) is native to North America and its current range is from southern Ontario to the west from the Nueces River in Texas east to the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico and southeast to the lower Apalachicola River in Florida. The gar population is small in the north and is being threatened in Lake Erie by the destruction of their habitat and pollution. The gar is more common in the southern waters like the Mississippi River basin from southern Minnesota to Alabama and western Florida. Historical records indicate the spotted gar resided in the Thames and Sydenham Rivers in Ontario, Canada. Also, the fish was once common in Illinois in the Green and Illinois Rivers to the swamps in Union County; though sporadic, the population has dwindled in these water systems because of the loss of specific habitat they need to live, clear pools with aquatic vegetation.
21. The fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) is a species of temperate freshwater fish belonging to the genus Pimephales of the cyprinid family. The natural geographic range extends throughout much of North America, from central Canada south along the Rockies to Texas, and east to Virginia and the Northeastern United States. This minnow has also been introduced to many other areas via bait bucket releases. Its golden, or xanthic, strain, known as the rosy-red minnow, is a very common feeder fish sold in the United States and Canada. This fish is best known for producing Schreckstoff (a distress signal).
22. The walleye (Sander vitreus, synonym Stizostedion vitreum) also called the yellow pike, is a freshwater perciform fish native to most of Canada and to the Northern United States. It is a North American close relative of the European zander, also known as the pikeperch. The walleye is sometimes called the yellow walleye to distinguish it from the blue walleye, which is a subspecies that was once found in the southern Ontario and Quebec regions. It is now presumed extinct.
23. The White Sucker (Catostomos commersonii) Restricted to North America, and widely distributed throughout Canada. In our province, the species occurs only in Labrador.
24. Yellow perch (Perca flavescens) are North America’s most popular freshwater fish, having been commercially harvested for more than a century. Weighing up to a pound (450 g), they live in large schools in the shallow waters of the Great Lakes. Lake Erie, being the shallowest of the Great Lakes, has the most productive commercial fishery for yellow perch.
25. The banded killifish (Fundulus diaphanus) is a North American species of temperate freshwater killifish belonging to the genus Fundulus of the family Fundulidae. Its natural geographic range extends from Newfoundland to South Carolina, and west to Minnesota, including the Great Lakes drainages. This species is the only freshwater killifish found in the northeastern United States. While it is primarily a freshwater species, it can occasionally be found in brackish water. The Newfoundland population is considered a threatened population. The Banded Killifish can not be kept by any Canadian as it is not legal to keep or transport the species from its habitat. I inquired with American Killifish Association member Dan Hodnett as to whether any of this population would be available for foreign aquarist to maintain as under many situations according to the C.A.R.E.S Preservation Program. Due to it having its own population genetics, it would be interesting to find out if this particular race of the species is available in the Aquarium hobby to try to ensure it’s survival. To listen to Dan’s answers check his life stream where the topic came up.
Livestream #96
26. White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) In 2003, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) identified six Nationally Significant Populations (NSPs) of White Sturgeon in Canada: Lower Fraser River, Middle Fraser River, Nechako River, Upper Fraser River, Upper Columbia River, and Kootenay River. The first two of these NSPs were declined for listing and the latter four were listed as Endangered under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) in August 2006. A final Recovery Strategy addressing the four listed NSPs was published in 2014.
27. The Banff longnose dace (Rhinichthys cataractae smithi) was a diminutive (about five cm. long) version of the eastern longnose dace. Its range restricted to a small marsh fed by two hot springs on Sulphur Mountain in Banff, a National Park in Banff, Alberta.
Since most Canadians can not keep native species in Canada and many of the species inhabit the United States where the The North American Native Fishes Association is operated out of the United States. There are many different channels that touch the subjects of collecting Native Fish such as this recent video done by titled NATIVE FISH COLLECTING IN THE SWAMP! – W/ (AQUA FUNK AQUATICS) would be interesting for any one of the #FishFam that are interested in Native American Fish from Florida https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1g6KZls9vIw Another excellent live stream to check out to deal with the topic of collecting Native Fish is done by Wild Fish Tanks with the topic DOs and DONTs of Collecting Wild Fish For Aquarium with Q&A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8nlaElTyNk&t=851s
To close this off: What questions would you ask? Does the country that you live in allow you as a hobbyist to keep Native Fish found in Your Native Land?
Due to the fact that Canadians can not keep Native Fish, except for certain Bait Fish species, under the bait fish of the Ontario Fishing licence, where they are able to keep only native species to that region (no other province). It is one of my projects to help educate Canadians about Native species that are either prohibited (due to some are thought to be invasive) or due to our law in Canada where we are not allowed to keep any native fish except under permit that can survive in our water ways. I do believe that the Channa (Snakehead) prohibition is being also disputed. The species that are from India and Africa that Chris Biggs has spoken about on his channel. So far no real word has been put out but it is actually contested due to the fact that none of those fish could survive in most of Canada’s winters. I am waiting to hear from Chris Biggs in response to my question about, why some of the Native Species are not on the CARES list, that are endangered that there are fish in the hobby that are kept by people in North American Native Fish Association. It is an interesting question to say the leas, as those fish could be kept outside in fish ponds. Perhaps it may have to do with the US Fish And Wildlife. Various different endangered Pupfish are on The CARES Preservation Program list that are threatened in their waterways.
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