Diet & Nutritional Quality of Arctic Char
Infographic in Inuktitut and plain language summary in English are below.
Arctic Char is the second-most consumed country food species in Nunavik. This salmonid is central to Inuit culture and health.
Read this open access paper on the Arctic Science website.
Anadromous (searun) Arctic Char gets its good nutritional quality (carotenoid pigments, responsible of the red flesh colour, and omega-3 fatty acids) mostly during summer from its prey in the ocean. Since marine biodiversity differs in Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait and Ungava Bay, we evaluated if there are regional differences in Arctic Char diet and in the nutrients in its flesh.
To do so, we sampled Arctic Char flesh in the three marine coastal regions of Nunavik and described its diet (isotopic composition) and nutritional quality (EPA and DHA omega-3’s and astaxanthin pigment). We also looked at the potential associations between isotopic composition and nutritional quality.
Our results show that the diet of Arctic Char and its nutrient content differ between Nunavik regions but are similar in nearby rivers. Isotopic composition reveals that Hudson Bay Char have a more pelagic diet while Ungava Bay Char feed more on coastal prey. Ungava Bay Arctic Char also accumulate higher levels of astaxanthin, the pigment responsible of the red flesh colour, and omega-3 fatty acids than Hudson Bay Arctic Char. Although Hudson Bay Arctic Char show lower fatty acids levels, it still remains an excellent source.
Our models suggest that astaxanthin, canthaxanthin, and water content influence flesh redness.
This study highlights inter-regional differences that could be taken in consideration to better predict the impact of climate change on fish quality and, ultimately, on Inuit diet and health.
Read the paper — Assessment of inter-regional dietary differences in anadromous Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) in Nunavik, Canada, and links with flesh quality indicators by Sara Bolduc, Mélanie Lemire, Jean-Éric Tremblay, Marianne Falardeau, Xavier Dallaire, Mylène Brochu, Justine Legros, and Jean-Sébastien Moore
