Reporting Rainbow Smelt in the EMR

Have you seen this fish?

The EMRWB has been receiving reports of Rainbow Smelt caught in Waskaganish, Eastmain, and Wemindji. The Rainbow Smelt is an invasive species, meaning that it doesn’t come from James Bay, and can have negative effects on native fish species. It is originally found on both the Pacific and the Atlantic coast, but they have started moving into the Great Lakes and the Hudson Bay watershed. Rainbow Smelt can negatively impact fish through competition for habitat and resources. Their main competitors are trout, cisco, whitefish, walleye, and perch.

If you catch a Rainbow Smelt, please do not put it back in the water. Rainbow Smelt are tasty and can be fried whole! Check out this website for smelt recipes.