Rainbow smelt | DE L'EAU À LA BOUCHE

Illustration couleur d'un éperlan arc-en-ciel.

Couleur argentée avec des reflets arc-en-ciel sur les flancs, un ventre blanc et un dos plus foncé, dans les tons verts.

Nageoires assez grandes et transparentes.

Corps allongé et muni de grandes écailles.

Grande bouche qui s’étend jusque sous l’œil et des dents pointues bien développées.

Nom

Rainbow smelt
Osmerus mordax

Type

Pelagic fish

Autres appellations

Nom en cuisine

Smelt

État de la ressource

Vulnerable

Saison de consommation

Fresh at the end of winter and the beginning of spring.

SIZE :

20 to 25 cm with a maximum of 35.6 cm.

LIFE EXPECTANCY :

Up to 7 years.

LIFE CYCLE :

In spring, rainbow smelt migrate to freshwater to spawn. During the nights between April and June, the female can lay up to 80,000 eggs. These stick to the bottom thanks to their adhesive envelope. Once born, the rainbow smelt move to salt water to grow. They will return to freshwater for the next spawning season.

Photographie d'un éperlan dans l'eau. Des silhouette d'autres poissons en arrière-plan.

The smelt is a small, silvery fish with a large mouth.
Credit : Claude Nozères, photo takin in 2010.

Voir l’image en plein écran

In the water column, usually 150 m deep, but which can reach 450 m in waters with variable salinity.

Anadromous fish, rainbow smelt are found at the mouths of rivers in winter.

PREYS :

Molluscs
Crustaceans
Marine worms

PREDATORS:

Salmons
Trouts
Seals
Seabirds

MACHINES :

In autumn, gillnet for commercial fishing.
For recreational fishing (main type of fishing): angling on ice in winter (pêche blanche).
Dip-net fishing in sprin.
Fixed-line fishing, hand-fishing, or harpoon fishing from wharves during the summer.

REGULATIONS :

Sports fishing permits required
Quotas from 60 to 120, depending on the fishing zone

Seven distinct populations of rainbow smelt are found in the waters of the St. Lawrence Seaway. The rainbow smelt found in the southern estuary is classified as being vulnerable.

BENEFITS :

Source of protein and fatty acid.

UTILISATION :

Lean white flesh with a finely flaky, soft texture. Its tender bones are also edible.

Rainbow smelt is often eaten whole, pan-fried, or deep-fried if it is small. Larger rainbow smelt can also be served whole, en papillote, oven-baked, or served as a fillet.

OUR CULINARY ADVICE :

Due to its vulnerable status, we do not recommend eating rainbow smelt.

Sweeter during winter

To withstand the cold waters of winter, rainbow smelt accumulate glycerol and an anti-freeze protein in their tissues. These components give the rainbow smelt a sweeter taste than in summer.