Alaska is home to one of the most diverse fish populations on Earth. Covering nearly 1.5 million square miles, it is the largest state in the United States. Much of Alaska is covered with ice for part of the year, yet its waters are full of life.
One reason Alaska is one of the most diverse fish habitats in the world is its unique geography. The state has thousands of rivers, more than three million lakes, and a long coastline. These different environments support both freshwater and saltwater species. Some fish live only in cold mountain streams, while others migrate between rivers and the ocean.
In this guide, you’ll find a complete list of Alaskan fish species.
Complete List of Alaskan Fish Species
This complete list of Alaskan fish species is sourced from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and includes both freshwater and saltwater species found across the state.
Below, you’ll find each fish grouped by common name along with its scientific name.
- Blackfish
- Alaska Blackfish - Dallia pectoralis
- Burbot - Lota lota
- Capelin - Mallotus villosus
- Char
- Arctic Char - Salvelinus alpinus
- Dolly Varden - Salvelinus malma
- Lake Trout - Salvelinus namaycush
- Chub
- Lake Chub - Couesius plumbeus
- Cisco
- Arctic Cisco - Coregonus autumnalis
- Bering Cisco - Coregonus laurettae
- Least Cisco - Coregonus sardinella
- Eulachon - Thaleichthys pacificus
- Grayling
- Arctic Grayling - Thymallus arcticus
- Gunnel
- Crescent Gunnel - Pholis laeta
- Hagfish
- Pacific Hagfish - Eptatretus deani
- Halibut
- Pacific Halibut - Hippoglossus stenolepis
- Herring
- Pacific Herring - Clupea pallasii
- Lamprey
- Arctic Lamprey - Lethenteron camtschaticum
- Pacific Lamprey - Entosphenus tridentatus
- Western River Lamprey - Occidentis ayresii
- Lingcod - Ophiodon elongatus
- Mackerel
- Atka Mackerel - Pleurogrammus monopterygius
- Pike
- Northern Pike - Esox lucius
- Pollock
- Walleye Pollock - Gadus chalcogrammus
- Prowfish - Zaprora silenus
- Rockfish
- Black Rockfish - Sebastes melonops
- Yelloweye Rockfish - Sebastes ruberrimus
- Sablefish - Anoplopoma fimbria
- Salmon
- Chinook Salmon - Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
- Chum Salmon - Oncorhynchus keta
- Coho Salmon - Oncorhynchus kisutch
- Pink Salmon - Oncorhynchus gorbuscha
- Sockeye Salmon - Oncorhynchus nerka
- Sand Lance
- Pacific Sand Lance - Ammodytes hexapterus
- Sculpin
- Slimy Sculpin - Cottus cognatus
- Shark
- Salmon Shark - Lamna ditropis
- Sheefish - Stenodus leucichthys
- Smelt
- Longfin Smelt - Spirinchus thaleichthys
- Pond Smelt - Hypomesus olidus
- Rainbow Smelt - Osmerus mordax
- Stickleback
- Ninespine Stickleback - Pungitius pungitius
- Threespine Stickleback - Gasterosteus aculeatus
- Sucker
- Longnose Sucker - Catostomus catostomus
- Trout
- Cutthroat Trout - Oncorhynchus clarkii
- Steelhead / Rainbow Trout - Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Trout-Perch - Percopsis omiscomaycus
- Whitefish
- Broad Whitefish - Coregonus nasus
- Humpback Whitefish - Coregonus pidschian
- Pygmy Whitefish - Prosopium coulteri
Summary
Alaska’s fish species are an important part of the state’s ecosystems, economy, and cultural traditions. Each one helps maintain balance in its habitat. Many fish serve as food for wildlife such as bears, birds, and marine mammals, while others support commercial, recreational, and subsistence fishing.
I hope this article has helped you better understand the wide variety of fish species found in Alaska and why protecting these waters is so important.
FAQs
How many fish species are found in Alaska?
There are nearly 500 fish species found in Alaska when counting both freshwater and marine species. Most of these are saltwater species living in the North Pacific Ocean and surrounding seas, while dozens inhabit the state’s rivers and lakes.
The exact number can vary slightly depending on classification and new scientific findings.
What are the most common fish species in Alaska?
Some of the most common and well-known fish species in Alaska include Pacific salmon (Chinook, Sockeye, Coho, Pink, and Chum), Pacific halibut, walleye pollock, Arctic grayling, and northern pike.
