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Species at risk
Northern Wolffish
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Learn / Species at Risk / Northern Wolffish
The Northern Wolffish, also known as the blue sea cat or jelly cat, is a species native to the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. This robust, elongated fish with distinctive teeth and no pelvic fins is notable for its cold-water habitat preferences.
Population
Northern Wolffish exhibit a rare level of parental care for fish; they use rocks to build nests where females lay large eggs that sink to the seafloor. The males guard these nests until the eggs hatch, a process that can take several months. Scientific surveys from all parts of the western Atlantic range indicate declines in the abundance of northern wolffish over the past 20 years. Since 1978, abundance in the primary range off northeast Newfoundland is down by 98%. Numbers have declined steadily, the number of locations where the species occurs has declined, and the range may be shrinking.
Scientific Name
Anarhichas denticulatus
Conservation Status
Classified as threatened by both SARA and COSEWIC due to overfishing and habitat destruction. The recovery strategy aims to enhance understanding of their life history and sources of harm while implementing management measures for habitat stewardship.
Size
It can grow up to 180 cm (71 in) in length and weigh as much as 20 kg (44 lb), marked by a large head, sharp snout, and distinct coloring ranging from greyish to dark brown.
Habitat & Range
Inhabiting the depths up to 1,325 meters, this species is found from the Barents and Norwegian seas to Iceland and south along the east coast of North America to Cape Cod. They favor open areas off the continental shelf and are known to use large rocks for shelter and nest building.
Diet
Their diet includes bottom-living crustaceans and invertebrates such as crabs, sea urchins, brittle stars, and starfish. They feed in open water on comb jellies and jellyfish as well.
Wolffish in Newfoundland & Labrador
The Northern Wolffish, known for its unique solitary and nest-building behavior, has seen a dramatic decline in its population. Over three generations, there has been a devastating drop of over 95% in its numbers, with a simultaneous reduction in the geographical locations where these fish are typically found. This sharp decrease points to significant challenges in the species’ survival and propagation.
Several factors contribute to this decline. A primary threat is mortality due to bycatch, where the Northern Wolffish is inadvertently caught in fishing gear intended for other species. This incidental capture is particularly damaging given the fish’s large size, slow growth rate, and long lifespan, traits that do not favor rapid population recovery. Additionally, the species faces significant habitat alteration due to bottom trawling—a fishing technique that disrupts the sea floor habitat essential for the wolffish’s survival, particularly affecting their nesting areas.
Furthermore, the Northern Wolffish’s limited dispersal capability exacerbates these issues. Their solitary nature and specific habitat requirements mean they do not easily relocate or repopulate new areas. This limited mobility makes them more vulnerable to localized threats and less able to recover from population declines.
Given these challenges, the plight of the Northern Wolffish highlights the need for targeted conservation efforts, including stricter fishing regulations to minimize bycatch and habitat protection measures to preserve the sea floor environments crucial for their nesting and feeding. The species’ decline serves as a sobering reminder of the interconnectedness of marine life and the impacts of human activities on ocean biodiversity.
Photo by Spencer Wright
Download information pamphlets
Diver Information Flyer
Printable PDF that includes information on safe encounters, identification, and data collection.
Fisher Information Flyer
Printable PDF that includes information on safe release methods, identification, and data collection.
further resources
CPAWS NL Wolffish Survey
Citizen Science survey to log sighting data