The number of salmonid taxa within some genera (e.g. Salmo, Salvelinus, and Coregonus) listed in various taxonomic databases (e.g. Fishbase or Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes) has increased very rapidly over the past 15-20 years. Many of these taxa are not widely accepted across the international community and are associated with very sparse data, leading to significant difficulty in accurately carrying out Red List assessments. The SSG strongly recommends a rigorous evaluation of the validity of these species designations, which can have real implications where legal protection is reflected by the use of these binomial taxonomic names.

Listed as Least Concern in view of the large extent of occurrence, large number of subpopulations, large population size, and lack of major threats. Trend over the past 10 years or three generations is uncertain but likely relatively stable, or the species may be declining but not fast enough to qualify for any of the threatened categories under Criterion A (reduction in population size).

This charr is distributed in the Sea of Japan and Kuril Islands, across Aleutian chain to Alaska, north in Chukchi and Beaufort seas and south along North American Pacific coast to Puget Sound drainages, Washington, including islands off both Alaska and British Columbia where the Bull Trout does not occur. In Alaska, it is known from as far west as St. Matthew Island. The status north of the Seward Peninsula in Alaska is uncertain (Haas and McPhail 1991). A record from the McCloud River drainage, California, based on badly disintegrated specimens, probably pertains to the Bull Trout (the population is extirpated) (Hass and McPhail 1991).

This species is represented by a large number of subpopulations. The total adult population size is unknown but considered to be relatively large. It is common (Lee et al. 1980, Page and Burr 1991). The population trend over the past 10 years or three generations is uncertain but likely relatively stable or slowly declining.

In Russia, it is considered to be very widespread and common (N. Bogutskaya pers comm. 2020).

In North America, anadromous individuals occur in coastal seas (two to three years) and in deep runs and pools of creeks and small to large rivers. Most dwarfed race populations seem to spend their lives in rivers and streams. Some landlocked populations inhabit lakes and tributary streams.

In Russia, this species reaches a length of 1.2 m and a weight of 12 kg, with an age limit of 15 years. It is commonly anadromous, and residential populations are rare and represented mainly by dwarf males. Migration to the sea occurs in spring to early summer, and entering the rivers from in late summer to autumn. The length of migrations in the sea is from several hundred to 1.6 thousand kilometres. Young live in the rivers until their first migration to the sea during the first to ninth years (more often two to four years). Juveniles mostly feed on aquatic insect larvae, salmon and other fish roe, salmonid and other fish juveniles. In the sea, adults prefer zooplankton and, less frequently, juveniles of fish. Sexual maturity comes at three to seven years, but most often four to six years. Reproduction is in the late summer and early autumn. Fish build small redds in cold, fast-flowing streams and rivers on small pebbles, and after spawning they bury the eggs. Spawning is commonly annual. After spawning a small number of fish die, but the rest can reproduce up to five or six more times, usually once or twice, in life. Fecundity is very high, from 3.9 to 16.3 thousand eggs, which are yellow and 2.5-3.1 mm in diameter. Adults have almost absolute homing. Non-mature juveniles enter rivers for wintering that can be far from their native rivers, up to 300 km and more (Reshetnikov 2002).

There are no major threats to this species at a global scale.

According to K. Boggs, S. Zempke and M. Kelly (pers. comm. 2000) there are no threats to this species in Alaska. It is harvested by sport fishermen but is not a desired fish, and it is not a targeted species for the commercial fisheries. Habitat disturbance (logging, grazing, damming) is also minimal. There are a few metapopulations that have 'catch and release' restrictions applied to them by the Fish and Game, but these are on heavily fished rivers. However, some populations are clearly threatened. Dunham et al. (2008) document a number of threats, including habitat loss and degradation, loss of connectivity, invasion of non-native species, and excessive harvest.

In Russia, this species is a valuable object of local fishing (Reshetnikov 2002). In Alaska, this species is harvested by sports fishermen (K. Boggs, S. Zempke and M. Kelly pers. comm. 2000).

Currently, this species is of relatively low conservation concern and does not require significant additional protection or major management, monitoring, or research action.