The Catch Of The Day - Arctic Char
Knute Hogan, The Culinarian, August 2007

Arctic Char are closely related to both salmon and trout and have many characteristics of both. Individual fish can weigh 20 pounds or more with record size fish having been taken by angling in Northern Canada. Generally, whole market size farmed fish are between 2 and 5 pounds in weight. The flesh color of char can vary, ranging from a bright red to a pale pink. The flesh of most farmed char is uniformly red.

The Arctic Char is present in North America as both anadromous (seagoing) and nonanadromous (freshwater resident) forms. The sea-run fish are larger, commonly weighing 5 to 10 pounds, while the lake dwellers range in weight from 1 to 4 pounds. The coloring of wild fish varies with its environment; the back is dark with a brownish to olive color, with small pinkish spots and the sides fade to a pale belly. The excellent quality of flesh and relative inaccessibility of this fish have combined to make it a species of high regard.

The Arctic Char has the most northerly distribution of any of the freshwater fish. It is the dominant species of the Arctic coast, lakes and rivers. Little is known about the life history of Arctic Char. Since the mid 20th century, it has been caught commercially and has established itself to be a valued seafood, second only to whitefish. Unfortunately, increased fishing pressure added to resource development in the Arctic posed a threat to Arctic Char populations. As a result, very little of the wild catch reaches the United States; the bulk of Arctic Char on the market is farm raised in Washington, West Virginia as well as Canada, Norway and Iceland.

Most Arctic Char is farm raised in land-based, closed onshore systems in tanks and raceways, minimizing the risk associated with escapes of farmed fish to wild stocks. Onshore systems are much less likely to let fish and parasites escape than net pens and discharge less pollution. It is not uncommon for sterile fish to be raised so as to not be able to breed with wild stocks if they escape. The low habitat effects associated with closed systems, particularly recirculating systems with adequate treatment of waste water, are beneficial to the local environment.

Recirculating aquaculture systems represent an ecofriendly way to farm fish. Instead of the traditional method of growing fish outdoors in open ponds, net cages or tanks, this system rears fish in indoor tanks within a controllable environment that filters and cleans the water for recycling back through fish culture tanks. New water is added to the tanks only to make up for water loss due to evaporation and to flush out waste materials to storage tanks, or holding ponds, allowing for facilities to be located in areas with low water resources. Another benefit accompanying the reduced amount of water required is that a smaller amount of land is needed. Operations can be set up in a more crowded urban area, thereby, being that much closer to the end user.

Aquaculture using closed onshore systems also offers the ability to control the water temperature at a level that maximizes food conversion and provides optimum growth, augmenting production that allows for swift turnover in which fish can be supplied to consumers each week. Also, by rearing the fish indoors, the weather has little to no impact on production.

Managing water quality benefits the fish as well as the final product. By maintaining dissolved oxygen at optimum levels, the fish have better food conversion, are less stressed and more disease resistant. The fish are separated from potential environmental contaminants, such as off-flavor caused by some algal growth and from any pollution resulting from run-off or residual pesticides.

Arctic Char was investigated as an aquaculture species in the 1970’s because it was thought to be well suited to low temperature requirements and potential to grow well at the cold water temperatures present in Canada. It is expected to provide producers with a unique product and a niche in seafood markets. Consumers benefit by the consistent year round supply of good quality fish at a stable
price.

Several factors have influenced the decision to develop Arctic Char as an aquaculture species. These factors include: a reduction in water temperature maintenance costs, an above average stock survival, reduced impact on the wild fisheries, a controlled environment which greatly lessens disease and parasite infestation, and uniform sizing for stronger market appeal.

The flavor of Arctic Char is less pronounced than salmon, the color of the farm raised fish is uniformly red, and the firmness allows for a number of preparation methods. Easily sautéed, poached, baked, and in more skilled hands, grilled or broiled.

Arctic Char is seen as a gourmet niche seafood product, a unique fish with high end market appeal. There are many advantages to presenting Arctic Char as a farm raised fish and most importantly it represents a success story in aquaculture that will allow for the consuming public to enjoy this superb fish for many years to come.