A group of small fish known as the Northern Tide Gobbies, who were rescued after the Palisade fire was brought back into the wilds of the Santa Monica Mountains after months of recovery at two aquariums in Southern California, was announced Wednesday.
Biologists rescued a rare fish in January from Topanga Canyon Lagoon, one of their few natural habitats, after the fire damage and spill threatened survival, according to aquarium officials.
The fish were cared for at the Pacific Aquarium in Long Beach for five months, and healed the Bay Aquarium in Santa Monica. The Topanga Lagoon was heavily affected by the sediment from the fire, but now there is sufficient habitat to restore the fish safely back into the wild, officials said.
“The fish in this group are small but powerful and have grown physically during their time here,” Stacey Hammond, aquarium of the Pacific Aquarium, said in a statement.
In addition to the aquarium, the effort was a joint collaboration between the California State Channel Islands, the Santa Monica Mountains Resource Conservation District and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Survey and California State Park.
“We are extremely grateful to the Tidewater Goby Recovers team and Aquarium Partners for their dedication, flexibility and sacrifice over the past few months,” said Dr. Brenton Spy of California State University.
Pacific Staff Aquarium checks for endangered species of fish upon arrival.
Tide water goby, known as the Keystone species, controls invertebrate populations and serves as food for native birds and fish. Their presence reflects the overall health of coastal ecosystems, according to the statement.
Topanga Lagoon supported Los Angeles County’s healthiest Gobby population until Pallisard fired. Scientists hope to reintroduce these fish to maintain genetic diversity and help species adapt to warmer and more diverse conditions.
The emergency funds came from USC Sea Grant from Los Angeles County supervisor Lindsay Horvas and donations totaling more than $43,000, officials said.
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