Arctic Char
Arctic char is a member of the Salmonidae family which includes salmon and trout. Arctic char are found in both freshwater and saltwater in Arctic, sub-Arctic and alpine lakes and coastal waters.
In addition to being found in the Canadian Arctic, char are found in Northern Europe. Populations exists in deep lakes of Scotland and Ireland. In Scandinavia, it is much more common, and is fished extensively. The species is also found In Siberia, where it is known as goletst.
The Arctic char is closely related to both salmon and trout and has many characteristics of both. Char can weigh 20 lb or more with. Many of the largest fish have been landed in Northern Canada, where they are known as iqaluk or tariungmiutaq. In addition, their most common name is sometimes spelled charr.
Arctic char is light, moist and firm in texture and serves as an excellent salmon or trout substitute. Char are highly prized for their excellent flavor and high content of Omega 3 fish oil.
Whole market sized fish are usually between 2 and 5 lb in weight. The flesh color of char varies from bright red to a pale pink. Both wild caught Arctic char and farm raised fish are available from fish markets and seafood retailers.