Artificial reefs nurture wild lake trout in Lake Huron
Some organisms taking refuge in artificial cobble reefs in Thunder Bay are invasive, but researchers say they don’t interfere with native species.
LANSING
The ecological success of artificial reefs in Lake Huron’s Thunder Bay could teach people how to restore fish populations across the world.
Ellen Marsden, a fisheries and wildlife expert from the University of Vermont, spearheaded the construction of 29 reefs built with small stones – cobble aggregate – in Thunder Bay in 2010.
“The goal was to create a space for baby trout,” Marsden said.
