Ranges from the Pacific to Atlantic coasts through the Canadian Arctic (Ref. 58426). Originally ranged in the Atlantic coastal drainage, from Labrador southward. Landlocked populations occur in inland waters of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, insular New Foundland, Labrador, Quebec, and eastern Ontario. Occurs in the Great Lakes (Ref. 119192). Introduced into Lake Superior in the early 1930s. Reached commercially harvestable levels by 1952 and eventually replaced lake herring as the dominant planktivore. In 1970, its decline led to the increase in lake herring population (Ref. 9041). Major fishery in New Brunswick. In Lake Erie, large catches mainly taken with otter trawls. The Atlantic smelt commands a high price and are sold whole or in the round. The Great Lakes smelt are usually mechanically processed and sold fresh, frozen, and precooked. Some stockes have also been introduced (Ref. 74657). Also Ref. 6793, 7251, 85409, 86798, 96339, 119194.

Status of threat of New Brunswick dwarf population in Lake Utopia: threatened; status declined since 1989. Criteria: 5 (http://fisc.er.usgs.gov/afs/) (Ref. 81264).