Aquatic species listed under Species at Risk Act and protected by Fisheries Act
The following table is the list of Aquatic Species at Risk found in Canadian waters.
Please check back regularly for new species profiles.
Last update: June 12, 2020
Species | Scientific name | Designatable unit | SARA status | Link to SAR Public Registry | Previous Names |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Atlantic Mud-piddock | Barnea truncata | Not applicable | Threatened | Profile of Atlantic Mud-piddock | Not applicable |
Atlantic Salmon | Salmo salar | Inner Bay of Fundy population | Endangered | Profile of Atlantic Salmon, Inner Bay of Fundy population | Atlantic Salmon (Inner Bay of Fundy populations) |
Atlantic Walrus | Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus | Northwest Atlantic population | Extirpated | Profile of Atlantic Walrus, Northwest Atlantic population | Not applicable |
Atlantic Whitefish | Coregonus huntsmani | Not applicable | Endangered | Profile of Atlantic Whitefish | Acadian Whitefish |
Atlantic Wolffish | Anarhichas lupus | Not applicable | Special Concern | Profile of Atlantic Wolffish | Striped Wolffish |
Banded Killifish | Fundulus diaphanus | Newfoundland populations | Special Concern | Profile of Banded Killifish, Newfoundland populations | Banded Killifish (Newfoundland population) |
Basking Shark | Cetorhinus maximus | Pacific Population | Endangered | Profile of Basking Shark, Pacific population | Not applicable |
Beluga Whale | Delphinapterus leucas | Cumberland Sound population | Threatened | Profile of Beluga Whale, Cumberland Sound population | Beluga Whale (Southeast Baffin Island-Cumberland Sound population) |
Beluga Whale | Delphinapterus leucas | St. Lawrence Estuary population | Endangered | Profile of Beluga Whale, St. Lawrence Estuary population | Beluga Whale (St. Lawrence River population) |
Bigmouth Buffalo | Ictiobus cyprinellus | Saskatchewan – Nelson River populations | Special Concern | Profile of Bigmouth Buffalo, Saskatchewan – Nelson River populations | Bigmouth Buffalo (Saskatchewan and Nelson River population), Bigmouth Buffalo (Saskatchewan River and Nelson River populations) |
Black Redhorse | Moxostoma duquesnei | Not applicable | Threatened | Profile of Black Redhorse | Not applicable |
Blackstripe Topminnow | Fundulus notatus | Not applicable | Special Concern | Profile of Blackstripe Topminnow | Not applicable |
Blue Whale | Balaenoptera musculus | Atlantic population | Endangered | Profile of Blue Whale, Atlantic population | Not applicable |
Blue Whale | Balaenoptera musculus | Pacific population | Endangered | Profile of Blue Whale, Pacific population | Not applicable |
Bluntnose Sixgill Shark | Hexanchus griseus | Not applicable | Special Concern | Profile of Bluntnose Sixgill Shark | Not applicable |
Bowhead Whale | Balaena mysticetus | Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort population | Special Concern | Profile of Bowhead Whale, Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort population | Bowhead Whale (Western Arctic population) |
Bridle Shiner | Notropis bifrenatus | Not applicable | Special Concern | Profile of Bridle Shiner | Not applicable |
Brook Floater | Alasmidonta varicosa | Not applicable | Special Concern | Profile of Brook Floater | Not applicable |
Bull Trout | Salvelinus confluentus | Saskatchewan - Nelson Rivers populations | Threatened | Profile of Bull Trout, Saskatchewan-Nelson Rivers populations | Not applicable |
Bull Trout | Salvelinus confluentus | South Coast British Columbia populations | Special Concern | Profile of Bull Trout, South Coast British Columbia populations | Not applicable |
Bull Trout | Salvelinus confluentus | Western Arctic populations | Special Concern | Profile of Bull Trout, Western Arctic populations | Not applicable |
Carmine Shiner | Notropis percobromus | Not applicable | Threatened | Profile of Carmine Shiner | Rosyface Shiner (Manitoba population) |
Channel Darter | Percina copelandi | Lake Erie populations | Endangered | Profile of Channel Darter, Lake Erie populations | Not applicable |
Channel Darter | Percina copelandi | Lake Ontario populations | Endangered | Profile of Channel Darter, Lake Ontario populations | Not applicable |
Channel Darter | Percina copelandi | St. Lawrence populations | Special Concern | Profile of Channel Darter, St. Lawrence populations | Not applicable |
Coastrange Sculpin | Cottus aleuticus | Cultus population | Threatened | Profile of Coastrange Sculpin, Cultus population | Coastrange Sculpin, Cultus Pygmy Sculpin |
Columbia Sculpin | Cottus hubbsi | Not applicable | Special Concern | Profile of Columbia Sculpin | Columbia Mottled Sculpin |
Copper Redhorse | Moxostoma hubbsi | Not applicable | Endangered | Profile of Copper Redhorse | Not applicable |
Cutlip Minnow | Exoglossum maxillingua | Not applicable | Special Concern | Profile of Cutlip Minnow | Cutlips Minnow |
Deepwater Sculpin | Myoxocephalus thompsonii | Great Lakes - Upper St. Lawrence population | Special Concern | Profile of Deepwater Sculpin, Great Lakes - Upper St. Lawrence population | Deepwater Sculpin, Great Lakes - Western St. Lawrence population |
Dolly Varden | Salvelinus malma malma | Western Arctic populations | Special Concern | Profile of Dolly Varden, Western Arctic populations | Not applicable |
Dwarf Wedgemussel | Alasmidonta heterodon | Not applicable | Extirpated | Profile of Dwarf Wedgemussel | Not applicable |
Eastern Pondmussel | Ligumia nasuta | Not applicable | Special Concern | Profile of Eastern Pondmussel | Not applicable |
Eastern Sand Darter | Ammocrypta pellucida | Ontario populations | Threatened | Profile of Eastern Sand Darter, Ontario populations | Not applicable |
Eastern Sand Darter | Ammocrypta pellucida | Quebec populations | Threatened | Profile of Eastern Sand Darter, Quebec populations | Not applicable |
Enos Lake Benthic Threespine Stickleback | Gasterosteus aculeatus | Not applicable | Endangered | Profile of Enos Lake Benthic Threespine Stickleback | Enos Lake Benthic Stickleback |
Enos Lake Limnetic Threespine Stickleback | Gasterosteus aculeatus | Not applicable | Endangered | Profile of Enos Lake Limnetic Threespine Stickleback | Enos Lake Limnetic Stickleback |
Fawnsfoot | Truncilla donaciformis | Endangered | Profile of Fawnsfoot | Not applicable | |
Fin Whale | Balaenoptera physalus | Atlantic population | Special Concern | Profile of Fin Whale, Atlantic population | Not applicable |
Fin Whale | Balaenoptera physalus | Pacific population | Threatened | Profile of Fin Whale, Pacific population | Not applicable |
Giant Threespine Stickleback | Gasterosteus aculeatus | Not applicable | Special Concern | Profile of Giant Threespine Stickleback | Giant Stickleback |
Grass Pickerel | Esox americanus vermiculatus | Not applicable | Special Concern | Profile of Grass Pickerel | Not applicable |
Gravel Chub | Erimystax x-punctatus | Not applicable | Extirpated | Profile of Gravel Chub | Not applicable |
Green Sturgeon | Acipenser medirostris | Not applicable | Special Concern | Profile of Green Sturgeon | Not applicable |
Grey Whale | Eschrichtius robustus | Eastern North Pacific population | Special Concern | Profile of Grey Whale, Eastern North Pacific population | Grey Whale (Northeast Pacific population) |
Grey Whale | Eschrichtius robustus | Atlantic population | Extirpated | Profile of Grey Whale, Atlantic population | Not applicable |
Harbour Porpoise | Phocoena phocoena vomerina | Pacific Ocean population | Special Concern | Profile of Harbour Porpoise, Pacific Ocean population | Not applicable |
Harbour Seal Lacs des Loups Marins subspecies | Phoca vitulina mellonae | Not applicable | Endangered | Profile of Harbour Seal Lacs des Loups Marins subspecies | Achikunipi, Harbour Seal (Lac des Loups Marins landlocked population) |
Hickorynut | Obovaria olivaria | Not applicable | Endangered | Profile of Hickorynut | Not applicable |
Hotwater Physa | Physella wrighti | Not applicable | Endangered | Profile of Hotwater Physa | Not applicable |
Humpback Whale | Megaptera novaeangliae | North Pacific population | Special Concern | Profile of Humpback Whale, North Pacific population | Not applicable |
Kidneyshell | Ptychobranchus fasciolaris | Not applicable | Endangered | Profile of Kidneyshell | Not applicable |
Killer Whale | Orcinus orca | Northeast Pacific Offshore population | Threatened | Profile of Killer Whale, Northeast Pacific Offshore population | Killer Whale (Northeast Pacific offshore population), Killer Whale (Offshore population) |
Killer Whale | Orcinus orca | Northeast Pacific Transient population | Threatened | Profile of Killer Whale, Northeast Pacific Transient population | Killer Whale (Northeast Pacific transient population), Killer Whale (West Coast Transient population) |
Killer Whale | Orcinus orca | Northeast Pacific Northern Resident population | Threatened | Profile of Killer Whale, Northeast Pacific Northern Resident population | Killer Whale (Northeast Pacific northern resident population), Killer Whale (Northern Resident population) |
Killer Whale | Orcinus orca | Northeast Pacific Southern Resident population | Endangered | Profile of Killer Whale, Northeast Pacific Southern Resident population | Killer Whale (Northeast Pacific southern resident population), Killer Whale (Southern Resident population) |
Lake Chubsucker | Erimyzon sucetta | Not applicable | Endangered | Profile of Lake Chubsucker | Not applicable |
Lake Sturgeon | Acipenser fulvescens | Southern Hudson Bay - James Bay populations | Special Concern | Profile of Lake Sturgeon, Southern Hudson Bay-James Bay populations | Not applicable |
Leatherback Sea Turtle | Dermochelys coriacea | Atlantic population | Endangered | Profile of Leatherback Sea Turtle, Atlantic population | Not applicable |
Leatherback Sea Turtle | Dermochelys coriacea | Pacific population | Endangered | Profile of Leatherback Sea Turtle, Pacific population | Not applicable |
Lilliput | Toxolasma parvum | Not applicable | Endangered | Profile of Lilliput | Not applicable |
Loggerhead Sea Turtle | Caretta caretta | Not applicable | Endangered | Profile of Loggerhead Sea Turtle | Not applicable |
Longspine Thornyhead | Sebastolobus altivelis | Not applicable | Special Concern | Profile of Longspine Thornyhead | Not applicable |
Mapleleaf | Quadrula quadrula | Great Lakes – Upper St. Lawrence population | Special Concern | Profile of Mapleleaf, Great Lakes - Upper St. Lawrence population | Mapleleaf (Great Lakes - Upper St. Lawrence populations), Mapleleaf (Great Lakes - Western St. Lawrence population), Mapleleaf Mussel (Great Lakes - Western St. Lawrence population) |
Mapleleaf | Quadrula quadrula | Saskatchewan - Nelson Rivers population | Threatened | Profile of Mapleleaf, Saskatchewan - Nelson population | Mapleleaf (Saskatchewan - Nelson population), Mapleleaf Mussel (Saskatchewan - Nelson population) |
Misty Lake Lentic Threespine Stickleback | Gasterosteus aculeatus | Not applicable | Endangered | Profile of Misty Lake Lentic Threespine Stickleback | Misty Lake Lentic Stickleback |
Misty Lake Lotic Threespine Stickleback | Gasterosteus aculeatus | Not applicable | Endangered | Profile of Misty Lake Lotic Threespine Stickleback | Misty Lake Lotic Stickleback |
Mountain Sucker | Catostomus platyrhynchus | Pacific populations | Special Concern | Profile of Mountain Sucker, Pacific populations | Not applicable |
Mountain Sucker | Catostomus platyrhynchus | Milk River populations | Threatened | Profile of Mountain Sucker, Milk River populations | Not applicable |
Nooksack Dace | Rhinichthys cataractae | Not applicable | Endangered | Profile of Nooksack Dace | Not applicable |
North Atlantic Right Whale | Eubalaena glacialis | Not applicable | Endangered | Profile of North Atlantic Right Whale | Not applicable |
North Pacific Right Whale | Eubalaena japonica | Not applicable | Endangered | Profile of North Pacific Right Whale | Not applicable |
Northern Abalone | Haliotis kamtschatkana | Not applicable | Endangered | Profile of Northern Abalone | Not applicable |
Northern Bottlenose Whale | Hyperoodon ampullatus | Scotian Shelf population | Endangered | Profile of Northern Bottlenose Whale, Scotian Shelf population | Northern Bottlenose Whale (Gully population) |
Northern Brook Lamprey | Ichthyomyzon fossor | Great Lakes - Upper St. Lawrence populations | Special Concern | Profile of Northern Brook Lamprey, Great Lakes - Upper St. Lawrence populations | Northern Brook Lamprey (Great Lakes - Western St. Lawrence populations) |
Northern Madtom | Noturus stigmosus | Not applicable | Endangered | Profile of Northern Madtom | Not applicable |
Northern Riffleshell | Epioblasma torulosa | Not applicable | Endangered | Profile of Northern Riffleshell | Not applicable |
Northern Sunfish | Lepomis peltastes | Great Lakes - Upper St. Lawrence populations | Special Concern | Profile of Northern Sunfish, Great Lakes-Upper St. Lawrence populations | Northern Sunfish (Great Lakes - Western St. Lawrence populations) |
Northern Wolffish | Anarhichas denticulatus | Not applicable | Threatened | Profile of Northern Wolffish | Not applicable |
Olympia Oyster | Ostrea lurida | Not applicable | Special Concern | Profile of Olympia Oyster | Not applicable |
Paddlefish | Polyodon spathula | Not applicable | Extirpated | Profile of Paddlefish | Not applicable |
Paxton Lake Benthic Threespine Stickleback | Gasterosteus aculeatus | Not applicable | Endangered | Profile of Paxton Lake Benthic Threespine Stickleback | Benthic Texada Island Stickleback, Paxton Lake Benthic Stickleback |
Paxton Lake Limnetic Threespine Stickleback | Gasterosteus aculeatus | Not applicable | Endangered | Profile of Paxton Lake Limnetic Threespine Stickleback | Limnetic Texada Island Stickleback, Paxton Lake Limnetic Stickleback |
Plains Minnow | Hybognathus placitus | Not applicable | Threatened | Profile of Plains Minnow | Not applicable |
Pugnose Minnow | Opsopoeodus emiliae | Not applicable | Threatened | Profile of Pugnose Minnow | Not applicable |
Pugnose Shiner | Notropis anogenus | Not applicable | Threatened | Profile of Pugnose Shiner | Not applicable |
Rainbow | Villosa iris | Not applicable | Special Concern | Profile of Rainbow | Rainbow Mussel |
Rainbow Smelt | Osmerus mordax | Lake Utopia large-bodied population | Threatened | Profile of Rainbow Smelt, Lake Utopia large-bodied population | Not applicable |
Rainbow Smelt | Osmerus mordax | Lake Utopia small-bodied population | Threatened | Profile of Rainbow Smelt, Lake Utopia small-bodied population | Lake Utopia Dwarf Smelt |
Rainbow Trout | Oncorhynchus mykiss | Athabasca River populations | Endangered | Profile of Rainbow Trout, Athabasca River populations | Not applicable |
Rayed Bean | Villosa fabalis | Not applicable | Endangered | Profile of Rayed Bean | Not applicable |
Redside Dace | Clinostomus elongatus | Not applicable | Endangered | Profile of Redside Dace | Not applicable |
River Redhorse | Moxostoma carinatum | Not applicable | Special Concern | Profile of River Redhorse | Not applicable |
Rocky Mountain Ridged Mussel | Gonidea angulata | Not applicable | Special Concern | Profile of Rocky Mountain Ridged Mussel | Not applicable |
Rocky Mountain Sculpin | Cottus sp. | Westslope populations | Special Concern | Profile of Rocky Mountain Sculpin, Westslope populations | Not applicable |
Rocky Mountain Sculpin | Cottus sp. | Eastslope populations | Threatened | Profile of Rocky Mountain Sculpin, Eastslope poulations | "Eastslope" Sculpin (St. Mary and Milk River populations), Rocky Mountain Sculpin (St. Mary and Milk River populations) |
Rougheye Rockfish type I | Sebastes sp. | Not applicable | Special Concern | Profile of Rougheye Rockfish type I | Not applicable |
Rougheye Rockfish type II | Sebastes sp. | Not applicable | Special Concern | Profile of Rougheye Rockfish type II | Not applicable |
Round Hickorynut | Obovaria subrotunda | Not applicable | Endangered | Profile of Round Hickorynut | Not applicable |
Round Pigtoe | Pleurobema sintoxia | Not applicable | Endangered | Profile of Round Pigtoe | Not applicable |
Salamander Mussel | Simpsonaias ambigua | Not applicable | Endangered | Profile of Salamander Mussel | Mudpuppy Mussel, Salamander Mussel |
Salish Sucker | Catostomus sp. cf. catostomus | Not applicable | Threatened | Profile of Salish Sucker | Salish Sucker (Chehalis populations) |
Sea Otter | Enhydra lutris | Not applicable | Special Concern | Profile of Sea Otter | Not applicable |
Sei Whale | Balaenoptera borealis | Pacific population | Endangered | Profile of Sei Whale, Pacific population | Not applicable |
Shorthead Sculpin | Cottus confusus | Not applicable | Special Concern | Profile of Shorthead Sculpin | Not applicable |
Shortnose Cisco | Coregonus reighardi | Not applicable | Endangered | Profile of Shortnose Cisco | Not applicable |
Shortnose Sturgeon | Acipenser brevirostrum | Not applicable | Special Concern | Profile of Shortnose Sturgeon | Not applicable |
Silver Chub | Macrhybopsis storeriana | Great Lakes - Upper St. Lawrence populations | Endangered | Profile of Silver Chub, Great Lakes - Upper St. Lawrence populations | Silver Chub (Great Lakes - Western St. Lawrence populations) |
Silver Lamprey | Ichthyomyzon unicuspis | Great Lakes - Upper St. Lawrence populations | Special Concern | Profile of Silver Lamprey, Great Lakes-Upper St. Lawrence populations | Silver Lamprey (Great Lakes - Western St. Lawrence populations) |
Silver Shiner | Notropis photogenis | Not applicable | Threatened | Profile of Silver Shiner | Not applicable |
Snuffbox | Epioblasma triquetra | Not applicable | Endangered | Profile of Snuffbox | Not applicable |
Sowerby`s Beaked Whale | Mesoplodon bidens | Not applicable | Special Concern | Profile of Sowerby`s Beaked Whale | North Sea Beaked Whale |
Speckled Dace | Rhinichthys osculus | Not applicable | Endangered | Profile of Speckled Dace | Not applicable |
Spotted Gar | Lepisosteus oculatus | Not applicable | Endangered | Profile of Spotted Gar | Not applicable |
Spotted Sucker | Minytrema melanops | Not applicable | Special Concern | Profile of Spotted Sucker | Not applicable |
Spotted Wolffish | Anarhichas minor | Not applicable | Threatened | Profile of Spotted Wolffish | Not applicable |
Spring Cisco | Coregonus sp. | Not applicable | Endangered | Profile of Spring Cisco | Not applicable |
Steller Sea Lion | Eumetopias jubatus | Not applicable | Special Concern | Profile of Stellar Sea Lion | Not applicable |
Striped Bass | Morone saxatilis | St. Lawrence River population | Endangered | Profile of Striped Bass, St. Lawrence River population | Striped Bass (St. Lawrence Estuary population) |
Threehorn Wartyback | Obliquaria reflexa | Not applicable | Threatened | Profile of Threehorn Wartyback | Not applicable |
Tope | Galeorhinus galeus | Not applicable | Special Concern | Profile of Tope | Soupfin Shark |
Unarmoured Threespine Stickleback | Gasterosteus aculeatus | Not applicable | Special Concern | Profile of Unarmoured Threespine Stickleback | Charlotte Unarmoured Stickleback, Charlotte Unarmoured Sticklebacks, Charlotte Unarmoured Threespine Stickleback |
Upper Great Lakes Kiyi | Coregonus kiyi kiyi | Not applicable | Special Concern | Profile of Upper Great Lakes Kiyi | Not applicable |
Vananda Creek Benthic Threespine Stickleback | Gasterosteus aculeatus | Not applicable | Endangered | Profile of Vananda Creek Benthic Threespine Stickleback | Vananda Creek Benthic Stickleback |
Vananda Creek Limnetic Threespine Stickleback | Gasterosteus aculeatus | Not applicable | Endangered | Profile of Vananda Creek Limnetic Threespine Stickleback | Vananda Creek Limnetic Stickleback |
Vancouver Lamprey | Entosphenus macrostomus | Not applicable | Threatened | Profile of Vancouver Lamprey | Cowichan Lake Lamprey, Lake Lamprey |
Warmouth | Lepomis gulosus | Not applicable | Special Concern | Profile of Warmouth | Not applicable |
Wavy-rayed Lampmussel | Lampsilis fasciola | Not applicable | Special Concern | Profile of Wavy-rayed Lampmussel | Not applicable |
Western Brook Lamprey | Lampetra richardsoni | Morrison Creek population | Endangered | Profile of Western Brook Lamprey, Morrison Creek population | Morrison Creek Lamprey, Western Brook Lamprey |
Western Silvery Minnow | Hybognathus argyritis | Not applicable | Threatened | Profile of Western Silvery Minnow | Not applicable |
Westslope Cutthroat Trout | Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi | Pacific populations | Special Concern | Profile of Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Pacific populations | Westslope Cutthroat Trout (British Columbia population) |
Westslope Cutthroat Trout | Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi | Saskatchewan - Nelson River populations | Threatened | Profile of Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Saskatchewan-Nelson River populations
|
Westslope Cutthroat Trout (Alberta population) |
White Shark | Carcharodon carcharias | Atlantic population | Endangered | Profile of White Shark, Atlantic population | Great White Shark (Atlantic population) |
White Sturgeon | Acipenser transmontanus | Upper Columbia River population | Endangered | Profile of White Sturgeon, Upper Columbia River population | Not applicable |
White Sturgeon | Acipenser transmontanus | Nechako River population | Endangered | Profile of White Sturgeon, Nechako River population | Not applicable |
White Sturgeon | Acipenser transmontanus | Upper Fraser River population | Endangered | Profile of White Sturgeon, Upper Fraser River population | Not applicable |
White Sturgeon | Acipenser transmontanus | Upper Kootenay River population | Endangered | Profile of White Sturgeon, Upper Kootenay River population | Not applicable |
Yellow Lampmussel | Lampsilis cariosa | Not applicable | Special Concern | Profile of Yellow Lampmussel | Not applicable |
Yelloweye Rockfish | Sebastes ruberrimus | Pacific Ocean Outside Waters population | Special Concern | Profile of Yelloweye Rockfish, Pacific Ocean Outside Waters population | Not applicable |
Yelloweye Rockfish | Sebastes ruberrimus | Pacific Ocean Inside Waters population | Special Concern | Profile of Yelloweye Rockfish, Pacific Ocean Inside Waters population | Not applicable |
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