B.C.

Burbot Lota lota

What do they look like? Fraser, Skeena, St. Kine, Alsek, This fish looks like a ling cod, Nass, Peace, Liard and Yukon with a long body tapering to systems. This fish usually Other common names: the rounded tail. The head is spends its time on the bottom flattened with a long snout and in the deep, cool areas of lakes It has a variety of names across a large mouth. It has a whisker- and rivers. They have been like appendage, called a caught as deep as 210 m. North America. In B.C. it is often Young burbot can be found called ling or freshwater cod. barbel, on its chin and at each nostril, and two fins on its along rocky lake shores and in Sometimes it is incorrectly back. The base of the fin weedy areas, or hiding referred to as ling cod; ling cod behind the head is quite short; between the rocks in tributary is a saltwater fish unrelated the other is at least six times streams. to the burbot. longer. Burbot can vary in colour from very pale to very What do they eat? dark, but are usually olive- Like many other fish species, Typical range in length coloured with mottled, darkish burbot are predators. They are for adults: 30 - 75 cm markings on the back and sides able to swallow fish nearly their Maximum length: 90 cm and a yellowish or dusky- own size. For example, there is coloured belly. Large fins are one report of a 38 cm burbot Typical range in weight mottled and have a dark whose stomach contained a for adults: 1 - 7 kg border. It is protected by a 30 cm walleye. As one of the Maximum weight: 9 kg heavy covering of mucus top predators, it has an which gives it a smooth and important role to play in the slippery feel when handled. fish community. Their diet includes whitefish, kokanee, Where do they live? juvenile salmon, suckers, This fish is widespread in cold, stickleback and perch, as well freshwater habitats in Europe, as crayfish and fish eggs in Siberia and North America. In streams. They will also eat British Columbia, burbot are Mysis shrimp. Younger fish found in lakes and rivers feed on aquatic insects. throughout the Columbia, What is their life cycle How are they doing? Help keep water quality high like? Burbot is yellow-listed, which by using detergents and soaps minimally and do not The burbot is one of the few means that the species is not at risk in British Columbia. It is dump harsh chemicals, such Canadian freshwater fish that as bleach, paint thinners or spawns in mid-winter under quite common in some areas of the province and most antifreeze, into drains. the ice. January through March • Form a group of water is their spawning period. They populations appear to be doing well. However, some stewards and volunteer to spawn at night, in shallow monitor local water quality. water up to 1.25 metres deep, populations have declined drastically. For example the over sand or gravel. Spawning No kidding! is usually in lakes but they populations in the Kootenay occasionally move into rivers to River between Kootenay Lake • Female burbot can carry spawn. They are weaker and Lake Kookanusa; and the more than a million eggs. swimmers than trout or char Columbia River downstream of • As they grow larger, they and need slower water to make Hugh Keenleyside Dam, which tend to eat bigger fish, not their spawning migrations. Ten have been affected by changes more fish. to twelve adult burbot usually in riverflows as a result of dam • Burbot hunt at night, by spawn together in a squirming construction. ambush locating their prey ball about 60 cm in diameter first by smell, then by which moves over the bottom How you can help: vibrations as the prey nears. Finally, when the prey is shedding milt and tiny eggs. • It is important to obey close enough, they make a This species does not make a angling regulations and rapid, close-range attack. nest and gives its offspring no habitat protection bylaws, • Like saltwater cod, the parental care. The eggs hatch guidelines and regulations, burbot’s liver contains after about 30 days. Burbot are since they are designed to large amounts of vitamins one of the few freshwater protect the fish and their A and D. fishes, in the province, that go habitat. You should also • Many anglers have through a larval stage before Observe, Record and Report discovered that burbot are growing into a fry. In Canada, violations of the regulations excellent for fish and chips. burbot live to a maximum age by phoning of about 23 years. 1-800-663-9453. • Never transport live fish or other organisms from one body of water to another. This could transfer YUKON diseases and N.W.T. parasites from one ecosystem to Ministry of Fisheries another, or upset the natural balance

Fort St. John in the ecosystem

Dawson Creek where they are released. Prince Rupert ALBERTA. Queen • Be aware that Charlotte City Prince George what you dump down the sink or

Williams Lake into sewers may find its way into streams.

Kamloops

Distribution Vancouver Nelson

Victoria U.S.A. Washington Montana