Conservation Fisheries Mussel Host Fish Work

Occasionally, we propagate some relatively common fish that can in turn be used as hosts for the propagation of freshwater mussels.

North American freshwater mussels are some of the most imperiled aquatic animals in the world. Several state and federal hatcheries now attempt to propagate these unusual creatures in hopes of stemming the tide of extinction. Freshwater mussels depend entirely up on particular species of fish to serve as hosts to the mussel’s offspring. The larvae of freshwater mussels parasitize fishes. The presence of these host fish is critical to the mussel's reproductive cycle. Some of the fish species are difficult to collect when needed for mussel propagation. Conservation Fisheries currently propagates several species of mussel host fish. These fish leave our hatchery and go to mussel propagation hatcheries. Thus, the rare mussels are able to complete this critical part of their life cycle.

Conservation Fisheries currently propagates two species of mussel host fish. We plan to add several more species in the coming months.

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