noun
- Plural of eulachon; small, silvery fish of the smelt family found in North Pacific waters, valued for their oil.
Usage: Also spelled 'oolachans' or 'oolachons'; Primarily used in Pacific Northwest contexts
Examples
- The Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest have harvested eulachons for centuries.
- Eulachons are so rich in oil that they were historically dried and burned as candles.
- Commercial fishing for eulachons has declined significantly in recent decades.
- The annual eulachon run brings excitement to coastal communities in British Columbia.
- Eulachons are an important food source for salmon and other marine predators.