An unusual rain of fish has occurred in the lakes of Utah, USA, astonishing many visitors.
The state of Utah is famous for its fishing services in remote mountain areas. To ensure a plentiful supply of fish for tourists, local authorities are required to supplement the lakes with additional fish.
Countless small fish under one year old fell into the lake from a chute as a plane flew over the lake.
This is why many tourists were astonished to witness millions of small fish falling freely from the plane.
This year, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has released approximately 35,000 fish into several lakes, creating a spectacular sight akin to a ‘rain of fish’ in the area.
Countless small fish under one year old fell into the lake from a chute as a plane flew over the lake, a location that is difficult to access by other means.
Just one flight can carry hundreds of liters of water and about 35,000 fish. These fish, measuring only a few centimeters, slowly “fall into the water.”
According to experts, the air slows down their descent, and this slow fall helps the fish survive better. If the fish were larger, the survival rate would not be as high.
Many states have implemented fish stocking since the mid-1950s, with survival rates ranging from 95 to 99%.
Previously, fish were loaded into barrels and transported by horse-drawn vehicles over thousands of kilometers to reach these isolated waters. Later, trucks were used, but the process was not significantly easier. Eventually, with advancements in science, airplanes became the method for transporting fish to the lakes.
Just one flight can carry hundreds of liters of water and about 35,000 fish.
Biologist Matt McKell explains that most fish are typically transported by trucks equipped with large tanks to the lakes or streams. Authorities connect pipes to the tanks, open the chute, and the fish flow directly into the water. However, many lakes are located too far to reach by truck.
He stated: “Depending on the area and road conditions, fish are transported to remote locations using buckets or backpacks on four-wheel-drive vehicles. In the past, horses were also used to deliver fish to hard-to-reach places. Recently, in northern Utah, a special situation required creative thinking to bring fish to a small stream in the Wasatch Front.”
Workers at the Logan Fish Hatchery report that they typically raise 250,000 fish for breeding, research, and to stock the lakes of Utah. Fish are released into the lakes every year or two to serve tourists.
Severe drought has caused some rivers and lakes to not be replenished with fish. Local authorities have also relaxed some restrictions to prevent fish deaths due to rising temperatures.
