Chapter 2 Conservation Need Addendum 1
2.7 Case Study – How Conservation Actions Help Protect Species: The Conservation Aquaculture Center (CAC) and Aquatic Species Propagation and Restocking The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s (NCWRC) aquatic nongame species program propagates rare and declining freshwater fish, mussels, and aquatic snails for restocking to appropriate habitats where they have historically been found. Aquatic nongame species restoration efforts around the state are supported by captive culture of rare species at the Conservation Aquaculture Center (CAC) located at NCWRC’s Marion Fish Hatchery. The CAC also has capacity to house propagated mussel species until habitat is available for their reintroduction. Staff at the CAC has collaborated with researchers at N.C. State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine to test the biological fitness of propagated mussels prior to their release into appropriate habitats. CAC staff also has implemented studies to improve culturing techniques and mussel growth and survival. The fish species Spotfin Chub and the mussel species Rainbow and Wavy-rayed Lampmussel were the focus of captive breeding programs at the CAC to support their reintroduction to the Cheoah River. Both the Spotfin Chub and the Rainbow mussels are federal and state listed as Threatened species. The Wavy-rayed Lampmussel is a state Special Concern species. Following improvements to water quality in the Cheoah River and increased discharge flows downstream from Santeetlah Dam, staff reintroduced into the river captive-bred federal and state-listed threatened fish and mussel species. The Cheoah River restoration project was also supported by collection of gravid female Wavy-rayed Lampmussels, Rainbow mussels, and Slippershell mussels from the Little Tennessee River and subsequent infestation of host fishes, collection of metamorphosed juveniles, and adequate life support for early development provided at the CAC. The CAC facility has provided larvae from brood stock to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Orangeburg Hatchery in South Carolina for research and propagation. Likewise, Wavy-rayed Lampmussels from the upper Pigeon River were collected and juveniles produced to support restoration in the recovering lower Pigeon River in Haywood County, N.C. In addition to CAC conservation work, the Marion Hatchery continues to hold seven Hellbenders with the ultimate goal of breeding them in captivity to meet the increasing demand as educational and display animals for qualified state agencies, universities, and other facilities.
Staff conducts other aquatic conservation work at t he NCWRC’s Watha State Fish Hatchery located in Pender County. Watha continues to hold and maintain an “ ark population ” of a
2020 Addendum NC Wildlife Action Plan
2A1-1
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