A Facility for Captive Propagation and Restoration of Rare Southeastern Fishes

J.R. Shute, P.L. Rakes, and J.T. Baxter
Conservation Fisheries Inc. 3709 N. Broadway, Knoxville, TN 37917
865-689-0231, noturus@aol.com

Captive propagation is a component of many recovery plans intended to supplement existing or to restore extirpated populations of rare fishes. It can provide critical life history information for poorly studied fishes, as well as clues as to why particular species are vulnerable to extinction or extirpation. In addition, culturing rare fishes can provide laboratory test subjects to refine water quality standards in a watershed containing those fishes. Conservation Fisheries, Inc. Currently maintains captive populations of more than a dozen rare fishes including four darters, (Etheostoma wapiti, E. Percnurum, E. Chienense, and Percina Aurolineata); two madtoms (Noturus baileyi and N. Flavipinnis); four minnows (Cyprinella monacha, C. Caerulea, Notropis cahabae, and N. Mekistocholas); two pygmy sunfish, (Elassoma alabamae and E. Boehlkei); and the Barrens topminnow, (Fundulus julisia). Surrogate species have also been propagated to develop culture protocols for species that are currently not available because of their extreme rarity. These include: Erimystax dissimilis and E. insignis (for E. cahni); and Percina copelandi (for P. aurora). Captively produced individuals have been successfully reintroduced within their historic range, and others are planned. Also, CFI is partnering with other institutions to act as refugium for some species with only one or two known natural populations.