History and distribution of Lake Whitefish, Coregonus clupeaformis (Mitchill, 1818), in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, Canada, with supplementary notes on regional Coregonids

Abstract

Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) occur in the Canadian Maritime Provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and were first described regionally in the 1850s in the Saint John River. However, no early observations of the species were known in Nova Scotia prompting extensive Lake Whitefish stocking through Canada’s earliest federally run hatcheries. From 1878-1901, nearly 80 million Lake Whitefish fry were introduced to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, but all attempted introductions were thought to have failed. From 1964 onward, Lake Whitefish discoveries were reported in Nova Scotia, but not until 1990 were these populations demonstrated to be native. Due to the distinct genetic lineage and eastern distribution of maritime Lake Whitefish populations, we argue that they originated from a distinct glacial refugium. The goal of this review is to provide baseline data on origin, distribution, and history of Lake Whitefish throughout the Maritimes that will facilitate continued research, help identify undocumented populations, and support the conservation of those so far known.
As invasive species spread, climates warm, and new recreational fisheries develop, the resilience of Lake Whitefish populations should become a management consideration among the region’s small yet distinct eastern assemblage of native cold-water fishes.

Keywords: Hatchery stocking, zoogeography, native species, continental shelf refugia, post-glacial dispersal