Fish Sorter

Fish Sorter helps users identify the almost 90 fish species found in lakes and streams of British Columbia, including 17 species that have been introduced from other areas. From the headwaters of the Yukon River to the Flathead River in southeastern BC, Fish Sorter will help you sort through the amazing diversity of our freshwater fishes. Many of these species are also found in adjacent areas of Yukon, Northwest Territories, Alaska, Alberta, Idaho, Montana, and Washington State. 

Unlike printed dichotomous keys, which use jargon and often require specialized knowledge, Fish Sorter uses easy-to-understand, illustrated questions that assume no prior knowledge and allows users to skip questions at any time.

Fish Sorter includes almost 200 photos, current and former names, taxonomic details, clear morphological and ecological descriptions, geographic distributions, lists of other fishes that “could be confused with” your specimen, and brief summaries of life history and conservation information – all curated by Dr. Eric Taylor (Professor of Zoology, UBC). Hard copy guides can be quickly out-of-date, but Fish Sorter content will be regularly updated with naming revisions, additional photos, new species, and more. Plus, content is available anytime and does not require an internet connection, making Fish Sorter an excellent companion on any trip to BC’s lakes and streams while fishing, hiking, or camping.

Great for educators, students, consultants, anglers, naturalists, and all fish enthusiasts!

Thanks to photographers who provided images and to Derek Tan (UBC Beaty Biodiversity Museum) for image editing and illustrations.