Pond Smelt
(Hypomesus olidus)
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Did You Know?
Anadromous pond smelt rarely survive beyond age 3.
General Description
The pond smelt is a small fish up to 8 inches in total length. It is distinguished from other Alaska smelts by its small mouth, the two rows of minute, brush-like teeth on the vomer and palatines bones, and the number of mid-lateral scales, between 51 and 62. The adipose fin of the pond smelt is typically longer than the diameter of the eye which distinguishes it from surf smelt. The mouth of the pond smelt is equipped with moderately developed canine-like teeth, which are lost as the fish approaches maturity, so by spawning time it usually has no teeth at all.
Pond smelt are generally light brown to olive green above, with a metallic silver band along middle of sides. Ventral regions are silver shite in color with pale fins. Males are easily distinguished from the females during spawning by the tubercles on the head, scales, and fin-rays.
Life History
Growth and Reproduction
Pond smelt are anadromous which means it lives part of its life in the ocean and part of its life in fresh water. Pond smelt spawn in fresh water streams, lakes, or ponds. Pond smelt do not strictly "home" to a particular water body like salmon, but appear to use streams or ponds in the general area where they were spawned that have the best habitat conditions.
Spawning sites are located along shallow river shores and in backwaters with little or no current, often in lakes, on sand or gravel. Eggs are "broadcast" over pebbly gravel bottoms in streams or ponds but often in littoral areas of ponds where the bottom is covered with organic debris. Like most species of smelt, fertilized eggs are initially demersal and sticky, adhering to whatever they touch. The eggs hatch in freshwater in 11 to 24 days, depending on the water temperature. After emerging from the eggs, young pond smelt migrate downstream to salt water to grow to maturity in the sea. After two to three years at sea, they return as adults to spawn. After spawning, the majority of pond smelt die.
Feeding Ecology
River currents carry newly hatched young to the sea where they feed mainly on rotifers and other plankton. As juveniles and adults they feed mainly on zooplankton such as copepods, cladocera, insects, and occasionally algae.
Migration
Since stream water temperature can affect the timing of the spawning migration, the numbers of spawning pond smelt returning to a particular stream can vary greatly from year to year depending on stream water conditions and overall ocean survival. Some streams can have two separate but overlapping migrations.
Range and Habitat
In Alaska, pond smelt are seasonally abundant in Beauford Sea drainages and south along Bering Sea coastal regions to the Copper River, Northern Gulf of Alaska.
Status, Trends, and Threats
Status
Population discreteness for pond smelt within and among river systems in Alaska is unknown, as very little information exists on pond smelt in general. It is clear that an understanding of pond smelt genetic population structure is necessary to identify appropriate management units for maintenance of biodiversity and productivity.
Trends
Overall strength of pond smelt returns vary across the state by year and location. Why run strength remains strong in some areas while weak in other areas is unclear.
Threats
Potential overharvest from commercial, personal use or subsistence fisheries is the main threat to the resource.
Fast Facts
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Size
The pond smelt is a small fish up to 8 inches in total length. -
Range/Distribution
Beauford Sea drainages and south along Bering Sea coastal regions to the Copper River, Northern Gulf of Alaska. -
Diet
Zooplankton such as rotifers, copepods, cladocera, insects, and occasionally algae. -
Predators
Salmon, sharks, sturgeon, sea lions, seals, humpback and beluga whales, seabirds, eagles, ravens, crows, salmonids, and bears. -
Reproduction
Female pond smelt can produce up to 4,000 eggs and anadromous pond smelt typically die after spawning. -
Remarks
Managed by the Alaska Department of Fish & Game in Alaska state waters
Did You Know?
- Pond smelt are often extremely abundant in suitable ponds and streams.
- Since adult pond smelt feed mainly on zooplankton, they may be important competitors with young sockeye salmon.
- Anadromous pond smelt rarely survive beyond age 3.
Uses
In Alaska, the pond smelt are likely important as a personal use and subsistence species. Pond smelt harvest may occur in conjunction with other smelt fisheries such as Eulachon since smelts can be difficult to identify to species. Pond smelt are likely harvested using dip nets or gillnets. They are frozen, dried, and smoked mostly for human consumption.
Management
There is a commercial fishery for pond smelt. Incidental harvest during commercial fisheries for other smelt species in areas where more than one smelt species are known to occur.
Research
There presently is no ongoing department or federal research projects involving pond smelt stocks in Alaska.
Get Involved
There are a number of ways to get involved in the regulatory process for pond smelt. Since the State of Alaska is responsible for managing pond smelt fisheries throughout the state, you can participate by attending Alaska Board of Fisheries (BOF) meetings, local advisory committee meetings or writing proposals to the BOF.
Alaska Board of Fisheries
The Board of Fisheries meets four to six times per year in communities around the state to consider proposed changes to fisheries regulations. The board uses the biological and socioeconomic information provided by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, public comment received from people inside and outside of the state, and guidance from the Alaska Department of Public Safety and Alaska Department of Law when creating regulations that are sound and enforceable. The public can submit proposed changes and comment on proposals prior to deliberation through written or oral means. The public is also encouraged to participate in their local advisory committee. Eighty-one committees throughout the state provide recommendations to the BOF on a variety of issues. For more information see: Board of Fisheries