Michigan lawmakers, conservation groups speak out against effort to list lake sturgeon as 'endangered'

Lake sturgeon may soon be added to the nation's endangered species list, but Michigan lawmakers and local conservation groups say the proposal is unnecessary.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to make a decision on whether the iconic 'dinosaur fish' belongs on the list later this year.

Lake sturgeon are considered a threatened species in Michigan, but its population has been on the rebound over the last couple of decades.

In a statement, State Rep. Cam Cavitt (R-Cheboygan) said the listing dismisses work done by local and state partners.

"The Michigan model works," Cavitt said in a video posted online. "Despite our proactive measures, the federal government is determined to impose sweeping regulations that could kill local control and disregard the balance between conservation and recreational activity."

Along with support from Michigan's U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Watersmeet), Cavitt said he's "urging the (USFWS) to reconsider their approach and engage in meaningful dialogue with our state agencies and stakeholders."

The potential listing could also threaten the state's limited sturgeon season, according to Jay Woiderski.

Woiderski is the president of the local group, Sturgeon For Tomorrow, and he said sturgeon spearing is important to northern Michigan's cultural heritage. He points to his own family — which has been fishing sturgeon for generations, dating back to 1947.

"It's just part of a way of life, for me and for many others around here," Woiderski said.

Teresa Homsi

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WCMU

Woiderski said the sturgeon season is highly controlled, with a maximum harvest of six fish from Black Lake, and it helps raise awareness for the species.

"We don't need federal government oversight that will just cause a hindrance to some of the work that's already being done," Woiderski said. "... Keeping the sturgeon around is absolutely our No. 1 goal."

Based on positive population trends, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is also taking the position that an endangered designation for lake sturgeon is "not warranted."

"All of the data we've got in hand and we've been collecting indicates that sturgeon are doing just fine," said Ed Baker, a DNR fisheries research manager. "Populations are expanding, and we're reintroducing sturgeon in a number of places."

Mature lake sturgeon numbers have approximately doubled over the last 25 years in the Black Lake system in Cheboygan, and hundreds of juvenile sturgeon are released annually into river systems across the state.

Baker said the designation wouldn't undermine the state's management, but there would likely be more federal oversight with existing programs.

He added that lake sturgeon harvests wouldn't necessarily be outlawed with the designation, depending on how the listing is structured.

As part of the listing process, the DNR said it's provided the USFWS with all available data on lake sturgeon in Michigan and commented on the federal species status assessment last summer.

"We've also clearly communicated to the USFWS that we don't think sturgeon are in need of federal listing," Baker said. "We've been very actively involved, in the extent that we can, on how the listing decision is being made."

Teresa Homsi

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WCMU

The proposal to list the species as endangered originated from a 2018 petition by the Center for Biological Diversity.

Woiderski said he understands and relates to the group's interest in protecting the species, but said the progress of lake sturgeon speaks for itself.

"(The Center for Biological Diversity) is absolutely trying to protect many different species of animals and plants, but for Michigan they're (decades) too late to bring this forward," Woiderski said, "because we've been working at this for 25 years now."

According to the Endangered Species Act, a species can be listed as threatened or endangered if: natural or man-made factors are affecting its persistence, its habitat or range is threatened, the species is over-utilized and at-risk of disease or predation, or if there are inadequate regulatory mechanisms to protect the species.

Black Lake and Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin are the two places in the country where sturgeon spearing is permitted.

Wisconsin congressional members have also spoken out against the listing, with a recent federal bill that would exempt lake sturgeon in Wisconsin from an endangered listing.

The USFWS did not respond to WCMU's request for comment.

Editor's note: In the interest of transparency, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is a financial supporter of WCMU.