Ocean Fishes
Eulachon
Thaleichthyes pacificus
Also known as
Oolichan, ulichan, ooligan, candlefish, oilfish, salvation fish
Distribution
Throughout the northern Pacific; in the northeastern Pacific from the Bering Sea to California
Ecosystem/Habitat
Nearshore ocean floor and coastal inlets
Feeding Habits
Filter feeder
Conservation Status
Special concern/threatened/Endangered
Taxonomy
Order Osmeriformes (true smelts & allies); Family Osmeridae (true smelts)
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Facebook Twitter Pinterest Google+Eulachon are a small, schooling fish that have an extremely high oil content in their bodies. This oil content has led to the nickname “candlefish” because they can be dried, fitted with a wick and used as a candle. They are a forage fish, or prey species, and play an important role in Pacific northwest food webs as food for numerous other fish species, marine mammals and seabirds. They have also been an important fish for centuries to many First Nations along British Columbia’s coast for food, social and ceremonial purposes. Their oils were extracted for “grease” production and the trails that were traditionally used to reach the fisheries and carry the rendered oil back for trade were known as “grease trails.” To this day eulachon are still a highly important fish species for many First Nations communities on the Pacific coast.
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