Coregonus maraena (Bloch, 1779)
Maraena whitefish
Coregonus maraena
photo by Freyhof, J.

Family:  Salmonidae (Salmonids), subfamily: Coregoninae
Max. size:  130 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 10,000.0 g
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 10 - 20 m, anadromous
Distribution:  Europe: In the Baltic Sea: Swedish coast (including Bothnian Gulf, not in Gotland); in southern Baltic, extending from the Schlei to Gulf of Finland. Southeast North Sea Basin: Ems, Weser and Elbe drainages and small rivers of Schleswig-Holstein and Denmark. Landlocked in several lakes in Poland, Sweden, and Russia. Introduced and transplanted in many drainages within its native range and outside westward to Rhine drainage (Ref. 59043). Apparent abundance in Germany, Poland and Scandinavia results from the massive stocking programs without which the populations would rapidly decline. Usually known as C. lavaretus in the Baltic Sea basin. North Sea population might represent a distinct species (Ref. 59043).
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Forages along coasts. Also reported from deep, oligo-mesotrophic lakes. Feeds on benthic prey (crustaceans, molluscs, large insect larvae, small fish). Spawns in shallow water, in rapids or small rivers or over firm sediments in lowland rivers and estuaries. Northernmost stocks undertake the longest migrations between spawning and foraging grounds. In the northern part of the range, individuals may travel as much as 700 km between these areas (Ref. 59043). Growth parameters from Russia suggest a maximum age of 20 years (Ref. 56506) . Members of the genus Coregonus readily hybridise with other Coregonus species and populations (Ref. 89548).
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 05 March 2010 (A2cd) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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