Ask A Scientist About Smelt

April 24, 2007

What happened to Lake Superior’s legendary smelt population? University of Minnesota Duluth fisheries specialist Jeff Gunderson will talk about the mystery of the missing smelt at two coffee houses in May as part of Minnesota Sea Grant’s “Ask a Scientist” discussion series. The discussions will take place on:

Tuesday, May 1, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Blue Water Cafe

On the harbor, Grand Marais, MN

Wednesday, May 2, 7 to 8 p.m.

Amazing Grace Bakery and Cafe

Canal Park, Duluth, MN

Rainbow smelt, an introduced fish species, were so numerous 30 years ago that people scooped them from Lake Superior streams by the thousands during spring spawning runs. That was before a mass smelt die-off and the sea lamprey population was brought under control.

Find out more about the free “Ask a Scientist” discussions at www.seagrant.umn.edu/news.

“Ask a Scientist” takes place on the first Tuesday and Wednesday of each month. Inspired by the internationally successful Cafe Scientifique and backed by Nova scienceNOW, Minnesota Sea Grant invites youths and adults to eat, drink, talk science!