An exploratory assessment of burbot ( Lota lota L.) by‐catches in four northern Canadian lakes with respect to the viability of liver oil processing

Summary Burbot ( Lota lota L.) liver oil with its high content of omega‐3 fatty acids, Vitamin D and Vitamin K is a potentially‐valuable nutritional therapeutic product. There is no commercial burbot fishery in Canada presently. Burbot by‐catch was monitored during 2006 in four northern Canadian lakes to determine if a by‐catch strategy might provide sufficient burbot for the establishment of a viable burbot liver oil processing facility. In the winter months, the burbot by‐catch fishery was found to be about 15% of the lake whitefish ( Coregonus clupeaformis ) catch. In contrast, summer by‐catch test fishery showed the burbot by‐catch yield to be 3–7% of lake whitefish catch. Application of the highest by‐catch value (i.e., from winter fishing) to the allowable quota catches of whitefish in these four lakes would result in a yield of only about 700 kg of burbot liver oil annually. This quantity would eliminate by‐catch as a feedstock strategy for the prospective burbot liver oil processing business.