Bering Cisco
Coregonus laurettae
Conservation Concern 2
Bering Cisco are common in the Yukon River system in Alaska, but only a few reach Canadian waters as far upstream as Dawson City. However, traditional knowledge suggests that the distribution is more widespread than currently documented. Recent research indicates that a number spawn in the Yukon River system upstream of Dawson. Spawning migrations spans late spring or early summer through fall, with peak spawning activity occurring in October.
Description 2
Bering Cisco resemble large, plump herring, with silver-coloured bodies and moderately sized scales. The average fork length of migrating fish is about 37 cm. The species is distinguished from other cisco by the pale, almost colourless pelvic and pectoral ns and 18 to 25 gill rakers on the lower portion of the first gill arch.
Typical Habitat 2
Long annual migrations are made to spawning areas in the mainstem portions of large rivers; in Yukon they are restricted to the lower Yukon River drainage. Bering Cisco spawn in fast-flowing water near beds of loose gravel where eggs are broadcast over the substrate. Outside Yukon, they are found in river estuaries and brackish lagoons along coastal Alaska.
Potential Threats 2
No urgent threats are known , but the small numbers of fish restricted to one main river in Canada (the Yukon River) make it sensitive in that system. The migratory behaviour of Bering Cisco makes the species susceptible to obstructions such as causeways and dams. The reduction of water flow or alteration in discharge or water quality in those rivers where they are known to spawn could be a limiting factor and a future threat. Incidental by-catch and a potential for over-harvest in the subsistence shery.
Sources and Credits
- (c) Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Fishes, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://collections.nmnh.si.edu/services/media.php?env=fishes&irn=5005515
- (c) L.G. Johanson, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
More Info
Range Map
iNaturalist.ca Map
| Animal | Fish |
|---|---|
| Color | silver |
