Lake sturgeon is a species of great cultural importance to tribes in Michigan. Lake sturgeon are cooperatively managed by the state and the tribes in the 1836 Treaty territory, and collaboration on assessments, regulations and enhancements in inland lakes and rivers is common.;

Current and upcoming surveys

The most recent survey, conducted on Mullett Lake in July 2024, was intended to evaluate the status of juvenile lake sturgeon and success of ongoing stocking efforts. Only 42 individual lake sturgeon were captured during the survey (29.5–70.5 inches in length). Of the 42 fish captured, only seven were confirmed to be from stocking due to the presence of tags. There will be additional genetic testing to determine if additional fish captured during the survey were stocked fish.

In July 2023, a survey was conducted on Black Lake, to evaluate the status of juvenile lake sturgeon and the success of ongoing stocking efforts. Over 400 lake sturgeon were captured during the three-week survey. The largest fish captured was 66.4 inches and the smallest fish was 24 inches in length. The survey revealed that some of the lake sturgeon handled were the result of natural reproduction and were not stocked fish, however the majority of fish captured were stocked lake sturgeon.

An upcoming survey on Burt Lake in 2025 will be led by the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. This survey will help assess lake sturgeon population status in the system and contribute data that can be used in the creation of a lake sturgeon management plan for Burt Lake and Mullett Lake.

Contact

For additional information, please contact Emily Martin.