U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Giant of the
A Great Fish of the Great Lakes
Contemporaries of dinosaurs, lake
sturgeon have remained unchanged
for millions of years. Once abundant
in the shallows of the Great Lakes,
these ancient fish look like fossils
sprung to life.
A resident of the Great Lakes for
10,000 years, the lake sturgeon is
more than a holdover from the distant
past—it is a barometer of the health
and diversity of the entire Great
Lakes ecosystem. Today lake
sturgeon inhabit large river and lake
systems throughout the Great Lakes
basin and the Mississippi River and
Hudson Bay drainages.
Lake sturgeon are an awesome sight.
The largest fish in the Great Lakes,
they can grow to be nine feet long
and weigh more than 300 pounds.
Like their prehistoric ancestors, lake
sturgeon have a distinct shark-like
tail and rows of armored plates called
“scutes” for protection. Despite their
intimidating look and size, sturgeon
are a docile fish. They have no
teeth, and instead use a protruding
vacuum mouth to feed on insects,
crustaceans, fish and other organisms
on the lake bottom.
Female sturgeon generally first
reproduce between the ages of 24 and
26 years old—older than humans!
Males usually mature between 8 and
12 years old, but may take up to 22
years to mature. Females spawn only
once every four to nine years and
males once every two to seven years.
The sturgeon's periodic spawning
cycle results in only 10 to 20 percent
of the population spawning during a
given year. While female sturgeon
can live up to 150 years, the male
sturgeon’s life span is typically 50
to 60 years.
Lay the monster
Lay the sturgeon,
King of fishes;
gills he breathed
With his fins
he fanned and
With his tail
he swept the
There he lay in
all his armour…
– The Song of
From Revered to Nuisance to
Native Americans revered the
sturgeon as an important part of their
culture that provided the community
with food, oil, leather and other
staples. Early commercial fishermen
(before 1850) slaughtered sturgeon as
a nuisance fish that destroyed fishing
nets targeted at other species.
By the mid to late 1800s, the
economic value of lake sturgeon
was recognized and a targeted
commercial fishery intensified.
Total catch of lake sturgeon peaked
in the mid 1880s at 4,901 metric tons
(8.6 million pounds). However, by
1900 commercial catches began to
decline quickly as the population of
sturgeon plummeted. Between 1900
and the 1970s, sturgeon populations
continued to decline.
In addition to over-harvesting,
habitat loss is a major factor
contributing to the sturgeon’s
decline. In the Great Lakes, the
damming of tributary waters has
prevented access to historical
spawning grounds and other
spawning areas have been
destroyed by siltation resulting from
deforestation, poor agricultural
practices and dredging. Pollution
from nutrients and contaminants in
the water has hindered reproductive
success and the sturgeon’s late
maturity and infrequent spawning
has also contributed to its decline.
Lake sturgeon populations that
remain in the Great Lakes today
represent only a fraction of their
former number. The lake sturgeon
is listed as a threatened species in
19 of the 20 states it inhabits and
is recognized by the American
Fisheries Society as threatened
throughout North America. Lake
sturgeon are now protected in most
waters of the Great Lakes with
closed seasons, size limits, harvest
quotas and gear restrictions.
Partnerships to Bring
Back the Lake Sturgeon
Throughout the Great Lakes, over
40 partnerships have been formed
between federal and state agencies,
tribal governments, Canadian
agencies, academic institutions,
commercial fishers, sport anglers,
private organizations and
individuals in order to conserve,
protect and enhance lake sturgeon
populations. U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Great Lakes Fishery Commission
Service offices throughout the Great
Lakes are working together with
other partners to better understand
the lake sturgeon’s unique life
history and meet rehabilitation
Partners capture lake sturgeon
to gather information such as age,
growth and health of sturgeon, then
tag and release the fish. Data from
recaptured fish help biologists
determine the number, distribution
and movement of the fish. Telemetry
studies are underway to determine
lake sturgeon daily and seasonal
movement, spawning areas and
preferred habitat. Biologists
evaluate the success of spawning
and larval development, as well
as factors inhibiting successful
reproduction. The genetic analysis
being conducted will help determine
population variability and overlap.
These partners are also working
together on various other projects,
including the design and evaluation
of “fishways” which will allow
sturgeon to by-pass dams; stocking
rivers with hatchery-reared lake
sturgeon; and controlling sea
lampreys to protect sturgeon.
Law enforcement officers are also
valuable partners who work to
prevent the illegal harvesting
of sturgeon and to educate the
The many partnerships formed
throughout the Great Lakes allow
agencies and organizations to share
knowledge and resources which
helps to accomplish our common
goal of lake sturgeon rehabilitation
in the Great Lakes.
You Can Lend a Hand
You can help the lake sturgeon
stage a comeback. If you catch a
lake sturgeon, and local fishing
regulations allow you to possess it,
gently measure and release the fish.
If the fish has a tag, record the
agency, number and color of the tag
and then contact that agency. Report
sightings of lake sturgeon to your
nearest U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Fishery Resources Office.
For centuries the lake sturgeon
has been an important member of
the Great Lakes fish community.
Through education, increased
awareness, habitat protection, water
quality improvement and regulatory
measures, we can still ensure a bright
future for this timeless giant of the
Visit the Great Lakes
Lake Sturgeon web site
for more information on programs,
activities and agencies that benefit
S. A. Stephenson, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Fishery Resources Offices
2800 Lakeshore Dr. E.
Ashland, WI 54806
715/682 6185 ext. 203
1015 Challenger Ct.
Green Bay, WI 54311
© Shedd Aquarium, Patrice Ceisel
This brochure is a product of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem Team Lake Sturgeon Committee.
Available in alternative formats upon request.
Hearing impaired individuals can also reach these offices
through the Federal Relay Number at 1 800/877 8339.
Lake Huron and Lake St. Clair
145 Water Street
Alpena, MI 49707
Lakes Ontario and Erie
405 North French Road
Amherst, NY 14228
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