The project was started eight years ago by the state fisheries division, which now conducts research with similar programs in Maine and New Hampshire as part of the Rainbow Smelt Species of Concern Project, funded by a $2.2 million grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The collected data are expected to help develop a smelt conservation plan for the Gulf of Maine region.

These efforts might seem like a lot of fuss over a fish measuring about 8 inches long. But smelt have a prominent place in both the environment and culture of the region.

“We expect smelt to run up their natal streams every spring, and many species of fish and wildlife expect this, too, and wait for their arrival,’’ said Chase. “Everything loves to eat these fish, including many fish that we value for commercial or recreational use. When the numbers of smelt decline like we have seen in the last 20 years, we need to respond and ask what is changing in the coastal environment.’’

Read the complete story from The Boston Globe.