AN INTRODUCTION TO THE MARINE FISH OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

Pygmy Snailfish (Lipariscus nanus). Photo by Alex Peden

by

Alex Peden

View our Marine Fish Atlas Pages
View the checklist of marine fish species of BC

As of 2002, 409 species of marine fish have been reported from within the 200-mile Canadian fishery zone in the eastern North Pacific Ocean. Of these, six require better documentation (Bathyraja aleutica, Nansenia crassa, Notoscopelus resplendens, Sebastes polyspinis, and Heterostichus rostratus) and are not all included in this total. Species such as Barbourisia rufa represent a new taxon for Canadian waters but require additional investigation as to final identification. An additional 16 species are known to be close to, but not within the Canadian fisheries boundary. At least another ten are known north and south of, but not within Canadian waters. Twenty-five species have been found in both fresh and salt water on both the marine and freshwater lists.

 

Pink Snailfish (Paraliparis rosaceus). Photo by Alex Peden.

KEY LINKS

Native Fishes Research Group (UBC)

UBC Fish Museum

Fish on line  (A draft guide to learning and teaching ichthyology using the FishBase information system)

FishBase (Global Fish Database)

LarvalBase:  A Global Information System about Fish larvae

 

Canadian 200-mile Limit Fishery Zone.

Map prepared by Alex Pedan.