TN Aquarium aids in rescuing endangered aquatic species

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) —  A drought on Walden Ridge prompted a rescue of an endangered aquatic species.

Reports of dried up streams came in late July, and the endangered Laurel Dace needed a rescue.

The Tennessee Aquarium, along with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the University of Georgia’s River Basin Center, and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency also aided in the recovery.

Tennessee Aquarium/Doug Strickland

Laurel Dace are considered one of the 10 most-at-risk fish in North America.

105 adult Laurel Dace were removed from the dried up streams and were relocated to the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute (TNACI).

Only one out of the 105 fish didn’t survive the relocation.

Now, the fish are doing well, and will stay at the TNACI until stream conditions go back to normal.

“The Laurel Dace are doing great.  They almost seem relieved to have fresh, clean water and plentiful food sources, which they weren’t getting in the wild during the drought,” said the Aquarium’s recovery biologist, Abbey Holsopple.