Race for the Laurel Dace

The Laurel Dace, listed as federally endangered in 2011, is of great conservation priority as it is considered one of the top ten most endangered fish species in the United States.

In cooperation with The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Aquarium monitors Laurel Dace populations and habitat, works with landowners to promote best management practices, and raises awareness of the Laurel Dace’s plight through outreach events and media.

Saving the Lake Sturgeon Program

To date, the Aquarium and its partners, the Southeast Lake Sturgeon Working Group, have released more than 425,000 of these giants-in-waiting into the Tennessee River and Cumberland River. Hopes are running high that there will soon be signs that this ancient, long-lived fish has established a self-sustaining population in these native waterways.

Southern Appalachian Brook Trout

Brook Trout are spawned at the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute each fall, then raised in human care until they are large enough to survive in the wild. They are then released into target streams identified by TWRA, where they can grow and eventually produce young trout of their own.

Barrens Topminnow

Since 2001, the Tennessee Aquarium has worked to study and safeguard the Barrens Topminnow. In cooperation with Knoxville, Tennessee-based Conservation Fisheries, Inc., specialists from the Aquarium have monitored the few remaining populations in the wild, propagated and released more than 44,000 Barrens Topminnows and even occasionally rescued Barrens Topminnows threatened by prolonged droughts.