Vendace

What it is

This slender fish belongs to the salmon family, identifiable by a small adipose fin situated between its back fin and tail. Its lower jaw extends further than the upper one, distinguishing it from similar whitefish species. The body displays a bluish-green or brown back, silvery sides, and a white belly. Adults typically measure around 20 centimetres, with few individuals growing beyond 30 centimetres.

Where it lives

Populations inhabit lakes throughout Finland, Sweden, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Smaller groups exist in Norway, the United Kingdom, northern Germany, and Poland. The species also tolerates diluted salt water in the Gulf of Finland and Gulf of Bothnia within the Baltic Sea. In the Volga River basin, it moved downstream into reservoirs during the mid-20th century but has since retreated north due to rising temperatures.

How it lives

Schools of these fish feed primarily on tiny crustaceans and their larvae. Larger individuals may consume floating insects or young fish. They form large groups for protection and foraging. In warmer southern parts of their range, such as near the Zhigulevskaya power station, they remain a rare but stable part of the open-water community despite climate pressures.

Breeding and life cycle

Most individuals reach sexual maturity in their second year, though some breed in their first autumn. Spawning occurs on sandy or pebbly substrates, ranging from shallow edges to depths of 20 metres. While autumn breeding is standard, distinct spring-spawning groups have evolved independently in certain Swedish and German lakes, sometimes classified as separate species.

Fish and people

Fisheries in Fennoscandia and Russia target this species extensively. Its eggs are highly valued as a delicacy, with roe from the Swedish Bothnian Bay archipelago holding protected status. This traditional food source remains economically significant for local communities despite environmental changes affecting stock distribution.

Status and threats

Warming water temperatures cause the species to lose ground in southern areas. The population in the Volga basin has regressed, now limited to upper reservoir pools. While currently stable in its core northern range, long-term climate trends pose a threat to its overall distribution and abundance.

Relatives and look-alikes

It resembles the common whitefish, which has a longer upper jaw, and the peled, whose jaws are equal in length. Genetic ties link it closely to the Siberian sardine cisco. British populations are sometimes separated as a distinct species, a classification not universally accepted by researchers.

Questions people ask about Vendace

Good reading and sources

• Coregonus albula on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
• Wikidata recordOpen data