Capitol News

Five hundred juvenile sturgeons were released into the Saginaw River system last week as part of an ongoing effort to bring the giant fish back from the brink of extinction.

For more than 20 years, Michigan State University and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources have partnered to rebuild Black Lake’s sturgeon population. Together, they opened the Black Lake Stream Side Rearing Facility, located in Onaway, Michigan, and have supplied sturgeons to a variety of hatcheries.

Each spring, researchers, graduate students and undergraduates catch newly hatched sturgeons that are less than 1 inch long and raise them until August when they’ve grown to about 7 inches. Then, they stock Black Lake as well as rivers around the state with the 3-month-old sturgeons. On Aug. 16, the community was invited to watch as the fish were set free in four locations along the Saginaw River.

Michigan State University graduate student Max Majinska and MSU Professor Emeritus Kim Scribner posed for a picture with an adult sturgeon caught during spawning season. Photo credit: Max Majinska.

MSU Professor Emeritus Kim Scribner has helped lead the program for more than two decades and retired in January. He passed leadership to Scott Colborne, assistant professor in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Quantitative Fisheries Center. Scribner said the rearing facility gives sturgeons a better chance of surviving so that Great Lakes sturgeon populations can grow. They’re also conducting research that’s led to important discoveries in sources and levels of mortality during early life stages and genetic diversity among sturgeons, helping DNR make more informed management decisions.

So far, the hatchery has helped double Black Lake's adult lake sturgeon population and increased populations in other Michigan bodies of water. The goal is for one day for sturgeons to be self-sufficient so that rearing facilities are no longer needed, said Ed Baker, manager for DNR Marquette Fisheries Research Station.

“We don’t want to be stocking lake sturgeon in perpetuity,” Baker said. “We want to get the population to sustain recreational harvest without causing it to decline again.”

Juvenile sturgeon are raised by Michigan State University and DNR for about three months before being released into bodies of water around Michigan. Credit: Bethany Mauger.

Lake sturgeons remind Colborne of African elephants due to their massive size compared to surrounding animals despite not being predators themselves.

“They’re actually a very charismatic fish,” he said. “Once you interact with a sturgeon, you become fascinated by them.”

Lake sturgeon have barely changed over their 150-million-year history with bony armor called scutes and a shark-like tail earning them their nickname "living fossils." They play an important role in nutrient cycling through bottom feeding which helps distribute nutrients through waters while eating invasive species like zebra mussels.

The average lake sturgeon lives between 50-100 years growing up between 4-6 feet long weighing about 30-80 pounds but can live up to 150 years reaching sizes up till eight feet long weighing up till 300 pounds according To Michigan Sea Grant.

Humans remain their main predator since reaching maturity leaves them without natural predators within Great Lakes regions making illegal harvesting problematic according To Baker who noted that since1975 there had been significant declines discovered by comparing legal versus illegally harvested numbers realizing most losses were due mainly because poachers targeting spawning focused fishes unaware surroundings leading efforts towards stricter regulations limiting harvest seasons reducing vulnerabilities

“A lot Of things eat Sturgeon eggs And babies throughout first year life” scriber stated explaining high mortality rates prompting action plans including changing angling regulations limiting specific bodies waters increasing restrictions while introducing stocking programs boosting populations

Since2000 collaborations between various universities alongside governmental agencies led successful rebuilding efforts doubling current black lakes adult populations aiming further growth ensuring sustainability amidst continued recreational activities such spear fishing regulated heavily preventing overharvesting safeguarding future generations supported actively via educational outreach programs involving local communities engaging directly protecting species raising awareness overall importance conservation

"The hatchery provides healthier robust crops able survive higher probabilities thanks extensive research conducted facility" concluded scriber highlighting successes achieved thus far emphasizing ongoing commitment preserving iconic ancient fishes ensuring balanced ecosystems thriving future ahead