BC Conservation Data Centre: Conservation Status Report
Lota lota
Burbot
| Scientific Name: | Lota lota |
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| English Name: | Burbot |
| Provincial Status Summary | |
| Status: | S4S5 |
| Date Status Assigned: | May 15, 2019 |
| Date Last Reviewed: | May 15, 2019 |
| Reasons: | There are many occurrences of Burbot found within a large range in BC; overfishing is a potential threat. |
| Range | |
| Range Extent: | G = 200,000-2,500,000 square km |
| Range Extent Comments: | Burbot are widespread throughout the interior of BC, although absent from coastal drainages and islands (McPhail 2007). |
| Occurrences & Population | |
| Number of Occurrences: | E = > 300 |
| Comments: | Burbot are found throughout the interior of BC, including the Skeena, Fraser and Columbia rivers (and associated rivers and lakes (McPhail 2007). |
| Number of Occurrences with Good Viability / Ecological Integrity: | Rank Factor not assessed |
| Number of Occurrences Appropriately Protected & Managed: | Rank Factor not assessed |
| Population Size: | FG = 10,000 - 1,000,000 individuals |
| Comments: | Burbot abundance estimates in lakes throughout BC range from a low of around 100 in some Skeena region systems (Giroux 2005) to 10,000 in Moyie Lake in the Kootenays (Stephenson and Evans 2014). |
| Threats (to population, occurrences, or area affected) | |
| Degree of Threat: | CD = Medium - low |
| Comments: | Burbot are widespread throughout the interior of the province, but are vulnerable to over-fishing and environmental changes in large rivers and reservoirs (Ahrens and Korman 2002; Giroux 2005). |
| Trend (in population, range, area occupied, and/or condition of occurrences) | |
| Short-Term Trend: | F = Decline of 10-30% |
| Comments: | It is believed there is declining abundance in some systems (Robinson 2013). |
| Long-Term Trend: | F = Decline of 10-30% |
| Comments: | Southern populations have shown marked declines in burbot abundance (McPhail 2007). |
| Other Factors | |
| Intrinsic Vulnerability: | B=Moderately vulnerable |
| Comments: | Burbot do not reach sexual maturity until at least age 7-8 (McPhail 2007). |
| Environmental Specificity: | B=Narrow. Specialist or community with key requirements common. |
| Comments: | Burbot are a cool-water fish, requiring temperatures of less than 18 degrees Celsius (McPhail 2007). |
| Other Rank Considerations: | |
| Information Gaps | |
| Research Needs: | |
| Inventory Needs: | |
| Stewardship | |
| Protection: | |
| Management: | |
| Version | |
| Author: | Woodruff, P. |
| Date: | March 25, 2015 |
| References | |
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Ahrens, A. and J. Korman. 2002. What happened to the West Arm burbot stock in Kootenay Lake? Use of an age-structured population model to determine the possible causes for recruitment failure. Consult. Rept. Prep. By Ecometric Research Inc. for BC Min. Environment, Lands and Parks, Nelson, BC.
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Giroux, P.A. 2005. Evaluation of burbot stocks and assessment of a cod trapping technique in four small lakes of Skeena Region, BC. Skeena Fisheries Report #SK-144, BC Ministry of Environment, Smithers.
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McPhail, J.D. 2007. The freshwater fishes of British Columbia. The University of Alberta Press, Edmonton, Alberta.
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Neufeld, M.D. 2005. Sturgeon and burbot recovery progress in BC, 2004-2005. BC Ministry of Environment, Nelson BC.
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Robinson, M.D. 2013. Koocanusa burbot abundance and distribution - year 1 data report. Prepared by Lotic Environmental Ltd. For the Columbia Basin Trust. 14 pp.
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Stephenson, S. and V. Evans. 2014. 2013-14 Kootenay burbot summary: Moyie Lake and Kootenay Lake. BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, Nelson, BC.
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Please visit the website Conservation Status Ranks for information on how the CDC determines conservation status ranks. For global conservation status reports and ranks, please visit the NatureServe website http://www.natureserve.org/.
Suggested Citation:
B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 2015. Conservation Status Report: Lota lota. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Jan 24, 2025).