Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus)

Though less well known than salmon or trout, charr are possibly the most numerous fish in Loch Maree. Charr are descended from sea going ancestors that colonised the loch after the last ice age some 10,000 years ago. Charr spend much of their time in deeper water and are rarely caught by anglers. There is much to learn about them. Charr seldom grow to more than 35cm long within the loch. One form of charr feeds on plankton and shoals can sometimes be seen at the surface. Another smaller form has big eyes and feed on worms, fly larvae and other small animals at the bottom of the loch.

There are at least 25 other populations of Arctic charr in the WRFT area including unusual stream-spawning populations. Charr were the target of a net fishery in two lochs over 100 years ago - investigations by WRFT are ongoing.

Related Downloads

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• Salmon fry (top) and charr fry (below) from Little Gruinard River system, August 2009
  This is the first charr fry recorded by the WRFT electro-fishing team. Please contact the WRFT biologist for mmore information.  Posted: 28/08/2009 (220KB)
• Arctic charr in north-west Scotland: workshop report
  This report summaries presentations and discussion at the Arctic charr in north-west Scotland: conservation and management requirments workshop, held at the Loch Maree Hotel on 27th November 2008.  Posted: 09/01/2009 (320KB)
• Arctic charr discovery week 2008 1st notice
  Please download this document for details of the WRFT Arctic charr discovery week.  Posted: 09/09/2008 (162KB)