Catch, breed and release: Working together to save rare fish
Claire Merrick, Marketing and Public Relations Manager
When we think of animal endangerment and extinction, we often think of exotic creatures in distant places. Less commonly considered are the rare fish found in our very own local waters, like the western banded killfish. These and other fish species have been classified as endangered, threatened, species of concern, special interest, extirpated or extinct. Thankfully, there may be a solution: the Rare Fish Project.
The Rare Fish Project began in 2019. Through this program, Summit Metro Parks biologists joined local experts in hopes of helping at-risk fish populations thrive through the collection, breeding and re-release of rare fish species. The program started with only one species of fish, the least darter. Since then, it has expanded to include six species total, with a seventh introduced in 2022!
“To most people losing one small, seemingly nondescript species of fish may not seem important, but we could never begin to understand all the delicate ecological balances that may be reliant on any given species. Maintaining an intact and cohesive environment is important to the preservation of the natural beauty we love,” explains Metro Parks Seasonal Biologist Zeke Churchin.
All project species are inhabitants of clean, clear, densely vegetated glacial lakes (some of which are referred to as kettle lakes). All release sites, which are selected based on habitat criteria, are also within the species historical range, with many having historical records from the sites themselves.
Every year, fresh broodstock is collected from the wild and introduced to one of five small manmade ponds. The fish overwinter in the ponds and begin spawning in early spring. Come October, fish are collected from the ponds and divided for release at Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) and Summit Metro Parks sites. Sites are surveyed for released species to determine success and, so far, reintroductions have been successful. The ponds require very little upkeep, and the fish require no outside feeding other than plankton and invertebrates that naturally occur. Future release sites include locations in Medina County Park District.
Many conservationists, Zeke included, often remember the words of conservationist, philosopher, educator, writer, and outdoor enthusiast Aldo Leopold: “To keep every cog and wheel is the first step of intelligent tinkering.” In other words, once these species are gone, the loss is permanent. If we discover their importance afterwards, it would be too late.
The species included in the Rare Fish Project are listed below. The list includes the fish’s common name, scientific name, state listing, number of fish released in 2022 and the number of fish collected this year for breeding 2023 stock. Note: “Extirpated” means a species is no longer found in a certain location, but has populations elsewhere.
Iowa darter (Etheostoma exile)
Ohio endangered species that was found in limited populations within Summit County. Iowa Darters were not bred this past year, only moved between populations.
Release number: 13
Stock number: 14
Least darter (Etheostoma microperca)
Ohio species of concern that was extirpated from Summit County until this program. With the resurgence of this species through the Rare Fish Project, we no longer collect brood stock. Instead, we simply collect individuals from our strongest population to stock elsewhere.
Release number: 229
Stock number: 0
Lake chubsucker (Erimyzon sucetta)
Threatened in Ohio and was nearly extirpated from Summit County until this program.
Release number: 58
Stock number: 8
Western banded killifish (Fundulus diaphanus menona)
Ohio endangered species that was extirpated from Summit County in the 1980s. It’s currently at risk due to the introduction of its non-native (to the state) sister subspecies, the eastern banded killifish (Fundulus diaphanus diaphanus).
Release number: 369
Stock number: 68
Blacknose shiner (Notropis heterolepis)
Was extirpated from the state and is making a comeback through this program.
Release number: 168
Stock number: 32
Blackchin shiner (Notropis heterodon)
Was extirpated from the state and is making a comeback through this program.
Release number: 630
Stock number: 50
Tadpole madtom (Noturus gyrinus)
Was extirpated from Summit County and may make a comeback through this program.
Stock number: 3 (with more to come!)
The Rare Fish Project is a partnership between CVNP, Medina County Park District, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio Division of Wildlife, The Ohio State University School of Environmental and Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Summit Metro Parks.
