Rare muskie fish found in Toronto waters after two centuries

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A big rare fish was found in Toronto Harbour by Will Sampson, a fisherman, a few hundred meters away from Toronto landmarks - this bears quite substantial environmental implications. 

"It was definitely a shock and we knew we had caught a unicorn," Sampson mused, referring to the muskellunge fish, which is often referred to as muskie.

At first, he thought he caught a large pike. However, upon catching the fish, which emerged to be over a meter long, he took a good look at its lighter colors and spots, realizing the significance of the species.

After taking a few quick pictures, Sampson returned the fish back into the waters. He predicted the muskie to be just under 9 kilograms.

"Catching a muskie in Toronto Harbour is super uncommon," said Rick Portiss, a senior manager of aquatic monitoring and management at the Toronto Region Conservation Authority.

"We've never had one in our catch over 30 years of environmental monitoring on the Toronto waterfront," he added. 

The muskie was a thriving species dating back to the 1800s in Toronto seas. According to Portiss, for over 2 centuries, muskie habitat was destroyed as the city's waterfront was urbanized. 

"Finding a fish like this is one true sign of an improvement of the habitat and the restoration of activities in the Toronto waterfront," Portiss said.

Governmental and organization efforts worked for the habitat to be restored in Toronto vicinities. Lake Ontario's water body has improved, thanks to organizations such as the TRCA.