<
https://www.opb.org/article/2023/11/25/klamath-tribes-koptu-cwaan-suckerfish-endangered-species/>
"It takes a village to raise suckerfish, and the Klamath Tribes are growing
hundreds of the bottom-dwelling species in constructed ponds near Chiloquin of
Southern Oregon. On a bright October morning, a crew has gathered to return a
small number of them to the Sprague River, a tributary of Upper Klamath Lake.
Two technicians take turns transferring netfuls of fish from kiddie pool-sized
holding tanks to a waiting truck. Klamath Tribes Fisheries Technician Charlie
Wright sits perched next to the tank, verifying that each fish has been fitted
with a passive integrated transponder, or PIT tag, which allows biologists to
track where they go and how well they survive.
“We’re scanning them as we’re loading them to make sure everybody has a tag
because we can’t release anybody without a tag,” says Wright.
Two species of fish are going into the tank: Koptu and C’waam, aka shortnose
and Lost River suckers. The fish range in age and size, but all have reached a
critical threshold, measuring at least 200 millimeters — about eight inches —
from head to tail.
“We’re hoping for a pretty good survival rate,” says Wright. “We actually have
quite a few sexually mature fish in here, which is really exciting to release
because next spring they’ll be able to make babies if they’re comfortable
enough.”
C’waam and Koptu are essential “first foods” intertwined with the Klamath
Tribes’ culture and identity. Both species live only in the Upper Klamath
Basin, primarily in Upper Klamath Lake. Chronically poor water quality has made
the lake lethal for young fish. As a consequence, most suckers that are alive
today are geriatric, and both species are endangered. Fewer than 5,000
individual Koptu remain."
Via
Future Crunch:
<
https://futurecrunch.com/good-news-child-nutrition-human-rights-bhutan-ocean-png/>
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
