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Lexi Krupp reports on efforts to restore arctic grayling populations in Michigan In a dim, out-of-the-way corner of the state fish hatchery in Marquette are a few thousand skinny, grey fish, each no more than nine inches long. “They are skittish,” says Jim Aho, who runs the facility for the Department of Natural Resources. “Movement above them definitely puts stress on them, so they’re in a dark, quiet few tanks here.” They’re arctic grayling, known as nmégos in Ojibwe a species that was once dominant in rivers and streams in northern Michigan, before they were wiped out from the state over a century ago. ....
4:47 They’re arctic grayling, known as nmégos in Ojibwe a species that was once dominant in rivers and streams in northern Michigan, before they were wiped out from the state over a century ago.
Since then, people have been trying to bring them back, without success. But researchers think this attempt will be different.
“There’s a lot more will behind it this time, because we don’t want it to fail again,” says Dana Castle, an inland fisheries biologist for the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians.
A few thousand young grayling moved to Marquette State Fish Hatchery this fall, after clearing a series of health checks. They’re growing and doing well, according to Jim Aho, who cares for the fish. ....