Arctic Char

Quick Take

• One rating agency crowned arctic char the single best fish you can eat, though not for the reason most seafood lovers would guess. See fishing and food facts →
• Scientists have called arctic char 'the most variable vertebrate on earth,' and the reason why says something strange about how life adapts to extreme places. Explore morphs and variation →
• Where an arctic char lives can change its body so dramatically that two fish of the same species look almost nothing alike. See how habitat shapes appearance →
• Climate change is doing something unexpected to arctic char, and the initial effect is the opposite of what you'd expect. See climate change effects →

Arctic char, also known by the scientific name Salvelinus alpinus, is a fish that is often confused with salmon or trout by those who are not experienced with fishing. They do have some similar features and are in the same family, but the arctic char is a unique fish. The arctic char is the northernmost freshwater fish. Some alpine lakes are inhabited solely by this hardy cold-water fish. They typically have a dark gray or brown color on top with an eye-catching underbelly that ranges in color from red to yellow.

Arctic Char Facts

• Dwarf arctic char can be as small as 3 inches, while giant arctic char can get up to 35 inches long.
• There is no size difference between males and females.
• Due to the many varieties found in different locations, the arctic char is sometimes called “the most variable vertebrate on earth.”
• Arctic char are not picky eaters. They are opportunists, eating whatever suitable food comes their way.
• During mating, males guard their territory and mate with multiple females.

Classification and Scientific Name

The scientific name of arctic char is Salvelinus alpinus. The word Salvelinus is derived from the German word for char — saibling. Alpinus is a Latin term referring to an alpine habitat.

Arctic char also has many subspecies. In North America, there are three:

• Salvelinus alpinus erythrinus — found on Canada’s northern coast
• Salvelinus alpinus oquassa — also called blueback trout and Sunapee trout
• Salvelinus alpinus taranetzi — a dwarf-sized subspecies of arctic char

There are also a few arctic char hybrids that have developed because arctic char are similar enough to trout to mate with them in some cases. Sparctic char is a hybrid of an arctic char and a brook trout.

Finally, there are also “morphs.” These are variations in the species that occur often. For example, dwarf char often exist in lakes. There can be two or more morphs living in the same lake or river. Many lakes have at least two morphs of arctic char.

Appearance

Arctic char can vary widely in appearance. For example, some can be quite small, while others are a large catch. They have different belly colors depending on where they live. Fish that have recently spawned in freshwater have brightly colored bellies, usually reddish or orangish. Those in the ocean are more silver. Regardless, their upper bodies are silver, grey, brown, or green, and they have light pink or red spots.

Certain populations of arctic char are trapped in arctic lakes and do not return to the ocean each year. These populations tend to develop into dwarf arctic char, measuring only 3 inches when mature. However, ocean-going char can grow up to 24 inches, although their average length is 16 inches.

The largest arctic char ever officially photographed and documented measured 41.3 inches and weighed more than 35 pounds. However, less verified records indicate arctic char can reach up to 43.3 inches and more than 44 pounds. On average, arctic char weigh just about 9 pounds.

Behavior

Arctic char with access to the ocean are annual migratory fish. They are anadromous, meaning they can go between saltwater and freshwater. Every year in September or October, they go to their freshwater home to spawn and then return to the ocean once they are done. When they are in a river, they usually stay pretty close to the mouth.

Habitat

Arctic char are found in many cold northern lakes and rivers. They are the freshwater fish that is found the furthest north. In some lakes that are very far north, they are the only type of fish. They can also live in lakes where it is so cold that the ice never breaks.

They are also found at higher elevations than many other kinds of fish. In Norway, arctic char have been found as high as about 1500 feet. They can also live in water that is deeper than many types of fish. Their habitats are wide-ranging, and they are found in many countries, perhaps most notably Sweden, Finland, Iceland, the United States, and Canada.

Diet

Arctic char are not picky eaters, which could be a reason why they are so widespread. Lake- and pond-bound populations adapt to eating what is available where they live. They can eat insects, zooplankton, other fish, and even other smaller char. They can eat food from the surface of the water or deeper down, giving them flexibility. Some experts believe the reason why so many morphs developed is that each one has a different preferred food source, allowing multiple populations to thrive in the same environment with less competition.

Predators, Threats, and Conservation Status

Arctic char are often eaten by sea otters, polar bears, ferox trout, humans, and other fish, including other arctic char.

Sea Otters

Some types of sea otters, like those found off the California coast, do not eat fish. However, others do, like those found in Alaska. They hunt with their sense of touch, using their whiskers and paws to hunt for fish, shellfish, and other treats. They may dive down to the ocean floor to hunt and then return to the surface to eat. Even when they find a good kill, they can store it in a pouch to find even more. They must eat 25% of their body weight every day — a remarkable amount of fish and crab. They can hold their breath for up to five minutes, which is enough time to nab an arctic char snack.

Polar Bears

Polar bears tend to eat fish only when their main sources of food are not available. They usually eat seals and larger prey. However, in certain areas where char come to spawn, polar bears can easily be spotted looking for a meal. Polar bears may use their “still hunting” method when looking for fish to eat. They stay still on a rock close to the surface of the water and wait for something tasty to come along.

Ferox Trout

Ferox trout are a type of trout found in Ireland, England, Scotland, and Wales. It is a large trout that feeds mainly on arctic char, where available. Because of this, they are mostly found in lakes where there is a decent population of char.

Humans

If you eat any type of fish or seafood, you have probably seen arctic char on the menu once or twice. Humans hunt wild char and also farm them to create an abundant source of the tasty fish. Plus, eating char is better for the environment than some other types of fish. The Monterey Bay Aquarium rates it as the best choice of fish for consumption due to its sustainability.

People who enjoy fishing also enjoy fishing for char. They use large lures that reach deep into rivers and lakes to find the fish in their preferred depths. If you give it a try, be aware that in some areas, it is required or recommended to throw char back if it is under or over a certain size. For example, in Alaska in 2026, anglers may keep 2 arctic char per day with no size limit in lakes, while in Canada, the limit may be 12 arctic char or 2.25 kg round weight plus one fish, depending on the region.

Humans affect arctic char in another way. Several lake and river populations of char have been killed off due to acidification of the water or poor water quality. This can happen due to chemical runoff from commercial agriculture and other activities.

Other Threats

Recent research suggests that climate change may initially increase arctic char growth due to warmer temperatures, but extreme warming can negatively affect their health and performance. As their preferred cold-water habitats shrink, their distribution and migration patterns may be altered.

Conservation Status

Arctic char is listed as a species of least concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Red List. This means that there are still abundant populations of char in the wild, so they are not a priority for conservation efforts.

Reproduction, Babies, and Lifespan

Females only mate with one male, but it is common for males to have multiple partners. Male and female arctic char have something of a mating dance. First, the the female clears a space for the nest, also called a redd. Then the male swims in circles around her before the two swim side by side. She releases between 2,000 and 5,000 eggs, and he releases his “milt,” which is fish sperm. The eggs hatch in the spring. Char do not go to the ocean until they are between 5 and 7 years old or between 4.7 and 8 inches long.

The expected lifespan of arctic char is around 20 years, but the oldest arctic char ever found is estimated to be 40 years old!

Arctic Char Population

Arctic char are highly variable and have many distinct populations across their range, with hundreds documented in regions like Scotland and the British Isles, but the exact global number of unique populations is unknown. Not much is known about the exact number of arctic char in the world.