Rare Fish Captured

[mrmoshe]

Rare fish captured

PIERRE (AP) -- It was an unusual catch, but one that fisheries officials were hoping to make in the Missouri River at Pierre.

Caught Tuesday in a huge net were two rare pallid sturgeon, a fish that is classified as an endangered species.

The two fish are believed to be more than 40 years old and may have been trapped in Lake Sharpe since Oahe Dam and Big Bend Dam were built. They'll be taken to a federal fish hatchery at Yankton to help with an ongoing program to restore the species.

The state Game, Fish and Parks Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are cooperating on the weeklong netting operation.