Overview

• Federal officials announced that lake sturgeon do not require Endangered Species Act protection, attributing the decision to effective stocking programs which have restored populations in several rivers.
• The Center for Biological Diversity's 2018 petition to list the species as endangered has been denied, allowing continued regulated fishing seasons in states like Wisconsin and Michigan.
• Habitat restoration and dam removal efforts have been credited with aiding the recovery of lake sturgeon, alongside the successful stocking initiatives.
• Officials acknowledge that while lake sturgeon populations are not at historical levels, they are sufficiently rebounding and do not warrant emergency protection measures.
• The species, known for their longevity and size, are considered living fossils, having first appeared around 136 million years ago.