Saskatchewan Fish
The following information provided by R.Hlasny and K. Murphy (SEM)
There are 58 species of fishes from 15 families considered native to Saskatchewan.
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Exotic Species
Species which were intentionally and officially introduced to Saskatchewan, regardless of their capacity to establish (many are re-introduced as populations wane). Also, those fishes which have invaded and established after an intentional, or accidental, introduction elsewhere in North America. Any species which established after accidental introduction within Saskatchewan would be included in this list; fortunately this has yet to occur.
American eel (Anguilla rostrata), Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus), Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), brown trout (Salmo trutta), coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), kokanee (Oncorhynchus nerka), largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) have been introduced by various provincial, federal, and private agencies. Each of these introductions was deemed successful, at least in terms of initial adult survival. For obvious reasons, several of these species did not establish breeding populations and may no longer be extant. All of the grass carp currently stocked in Saskatchewan are effectively sterile (triploid) animals. Note that there is some discussion as to the status of rainbow trout. There is evidence of native populations existing east of the continental divide in the Peace and Athabasca river basins; however no documented collections have been made of native rainbow trout in Saskatchewan.
All attempts to introduce black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus), bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax), and white crappie (Pomoxis annularis) were unsuccessful.
Two types of hybrid fish have been, and continue to be, stocked by the province. These are the splake (S. fontinalis x S. namaycush) and tiger trout (S. trutta x S. fontinalis).
Various tilapia species and hybrids have been used in pond and dugout experiments, none of which have been successful. About 5 different species were tested, they are listed here under Tilapia spp.
The common carp (Cyprinus carpio) invaded and became established in Saskatchewan after its introduction to North America. Records indicate an invasion prior to 1955 (Atton 1959).
At least 23 exotic species from 4 families have invaded, or been introduced to, Saskatchewan over time. Currently 11 species of exotic fishes from 3 families are thought to occur in Saskatchewan waters.
Incidentally Occurring Species
Those species collected from the waters of Saskatchewan for which there is insufficient evidence to determine if an established population exists. Also, species which were collected but are known not to have established.
The least peculiar species reported are the freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens) and the western silvery minnow (Hybognathus argyritis). Two dead freshwater drum specimens were taken from the banks of Swiftcurrent Creek in 1953 (Atton and Johnson 1955). Both were submitted to the University of Saskatchewan. Scott and Crossman (1973) indicate an isolated pocket of the species' range in southwestern Saskatchewan. This is likely based on the aforementioned specimens and should be considered spurious. Nine western silvery minnows were collected from Tobin Lake in 1966 during a survey by the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM catalogue number 27920). No other, confirmed, specimens of this species have been taken from Saskatchewan waters. Fish taken from the Frenchman River, previously identified as western silvery minnows, have been determined to be brassy minnows (Hybognathus hankinsoni) upon re-examination of the collections (Dr. G. Melville, Saskatchewan Research Council, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, personal communication).
At various times goldfish (Carassius auratus), piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri), and oscar (Astronotus ocellatus) have been reported. Most are found in sloughs, dugouts, and storm retention ponds. Undoubtedly, there have been other unrecorded instances of species once resident to aquaria being "stocked" to Saskatchewan's waters.