Introduction |
Taxonomy |
Morphology |
Distribution |
Diet |
Size |
Aging |
Spawning |
Predation |
Extinction |

The Arctic Char, Salvelinus alpinus, in Ireland

Extinction <UPDATE: LOUGH CONG>
There are believed to be over 200 populations of char in Britain. Ten occur in England, four in Wales and the majority, about two hundred, in Scotland. Ireland is known to have had over seventy populations. However, like in Britain, Norway and Sweden, Irish populations have become extinct. Since the 1900's many populations have been lost in south Norway and south Sweden. The main cause has been acidification of lakes by acid rain. Extinctions in Britain and Ireland have also been caused by pressure on environmental quality caused by afforestation, eutrophication and water abstraction.

In Ireland over 13 populations are believed to be extinct. It is known that a similar number of populations have not been found in their native lakes for over seventy years. The extinction of arctic char from lakes in Ireland continues at an alarming rate. In the 1990’s it is believed that as many as three populations were lost. Two of Ireland’s most important lakes in terms of biodiversity and species richness, Lough Corrib (14 species of fish) and Lough Erne (14 including pollan) have both lost their populations of char.

Nearly all Irish extinctions are attributable to eutrophication and other antropogenic causes. The most recent Irish extinctions are have been attributed to eutrophication and acidification. It is unlikely that overfishing has ever caused the extinction of an Irish population of char, although we would recommend a code of practice if char fishing in Ireland becomes more popular.