Students and Tennessee Aquarium Unite to Restore the Tennessee River

The Tennessee Aquarium teamed up with students from Brown Academy for a meaningful event aimed at restoring the Tennessee River. Around 500 juvenile lake sturgeon were released into the river from the ramp at Coolidge Park!

The atmosphere was filled with anticipation as everyone prepared to help give the lake sturgeon a fresh start in their natural habitat.

“It’s a really great day to release the sturgeons. It is my favorite part—just being able to see all of our hard work pay off and the fish return to their natural habitat. They go out there and help this population succeed,” said Teresa Israel from the Tennessee Aquarium.

Over the past 24 years, the aquarium has raised and released over 400,000 four-hundred-thousand lake sturgeon into the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers. The process begins long before the release, with careful attention to the fish’s health and growth.

“They are very intensive fish. When we bring them in, they’re about an inch long, and we have to feed them three times a day, chopping their food—frozen blood worms—into tiny pieces for their little mouths. It takes more than eight hours all day as we scrub their tanks, chop their food, and ensure they get a good meal three times a day. It’s work-intensive, but it all pays off in the end on release day,” said Teresa.

With this release, the juvenile lake sturgeon are embarking on their journey back to their natural habitat, and the community is excited to support their successful return.