First sturgeon from new rearing facility released

by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor

The first batch of young sturgeon to be reared at the new Kleber Tower Dam facility were released Saturday afternoon into Black, Mullett and Burt Lakes. Before the fish were loaded into a tank truck, officials from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Michigan State University (MSU) and Sturgeon for Tomorrow (SFT) expressed their gratitude for the time and efforts put into establishing the facility which is expected to make it easier to make an impact on sturgeon populations in northern lower Michigan.

Eggs and sperm are collected from the upper Black River and brought to the facility to be reared to a size officials hope will survive and thrive. How big the fish need to be is still undetermined. As has been the case over the last three decades, there has been a lot learned and a lot left to be learned.

?WE ARE trying to come up with a better understanding of what is resulting in the declines in recruitment,? said Professor Kim Scribner of MSU?s department of fisheries and wildlife during the informal ceremony. ?The population is not self-sustaining. We would like to understand a little more why.

?What we have now is an absolutely fabulous facility that is going to allow us to continue our research into some of these critical areas, with a much nicer facility, as well as proving a means of restoring the population,? said Scribner. ?It involves collaboration and cooperation and we are very thankful for the support in the community. Local community members here have embraced us. And we very much appreciate it. This couldn?t have been done by one individual or one group.?

The Tower-Kleber Limited Partnership entered into an agreement with the DNR and has provided the land and invested in the b

uilding of this facility.

?WE ARE very grateful that you care about the fish,? said Brenda Archambo, president of Sturgeon for Tomorrow, who thanked the supporters gathered for the ceremony. ?Today is a wonderful day. We have introduced sturgeon in the past into the local rivers, but not out of this specific facility.?

The work to construct the facility makes it possible that, ?we can have many, many days like this where we can reintroduce them back into the place where they belong. From now on, I really think we are going to be repeating the benefit,? said Steve Sendek, DNR fisheries biologist.

The lake sturgeon has a long history in the lakes and rivers of Michigan. Sturgeon have been cruising lake waters since the time of the dinosaurs — about 136 million years ago — and was a common fish in Great Lakes waters 120 years ago. However, many stresses threaten their survival. The lake sturgeon is now considered an uncommon fish, and is a state-listed threatened species. Sturgeon can live to be over 100 years old, grow to eight feet in length and weigh over 200 pounds.

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