Presence of a Prehistoric Fish in the St. Marys River
Ann Arbor, MI — Lake sturgeon are a native, prehistoric fish species that had roamed deep waters of the Great Lakes in abundance for centuries. Indigenous peoples of the Great Lakes Region harvested this "Ogimaa giigonh" (translation – King of Fishes) during the early spring, and viewed lake sturgeon as a culturally significant species. Conversely, European settlers initially viewed lake sturgeon as a “trash fish” until their caviar market value was recognized and then they were targeted heavily by commercial fishermen. After the industrial revolution many of their populations were left utterly decimated and some extinct. Presently, scientists are working hard to bring back this native king of caviar by surveying existing populations across the Great Lakes Region.
Until recently, the abundance and distribution of lake sturgeon present in the St. Marys River was unknown. Lake sturgeon were captured accidentally by fisherman, or were witnessed swimming up nearby rivers during the early spring spawning run. Since lake sturgeon are a protected species in the Great Lakes Region and a Conservation Target in the St. Marys River, these sightings sparked the interest of local researchers at Lake Superior State University (LSSU). After 8 years of surveying portions of the St. Marys River, LSSU researchers determined that lake sturgeon are present in the river, particularly in the North Channel of the St. Marys River. Unfortunately, their relatively low numbers still make them vulnerable to future human impacts.
"As long-lived, bottom feeding fish, lake sturgeon are very susceptible to declines in water quality and river habitat. These characteristics also make them good indicators of the health of the St. Marys River," stated Ashley Moerke, LSSU researcher and co-author of this study. "Continued monitoring of the lake sturgeon population in the St. Marys River will help managers identify critical habitat regions and answer important life history questions that are vital to restoring lake sturgeon on a Great Lakes scale."
Original Publication Information
Results of this study, "Population status and demographics of lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) in the St. Marys River, from 2000 to 2007," are reported by John M. Bauman, Ashley Moerke, Brandon Gerig, Roger Greil, Ed Baker, and Justin Chiotti in the latest issue (Volume 37, Suppl. 2, pp. 47-53) of the Journal of Great Lakes Research, published by Elsevier, 2011.
Contacts
For more information about the study, contact Dr. Ashley Moerke, Co-Director, Lake Superior State University Aquatic Research Laboratory, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan 49783; amoerke@lssu.edu.
For information about the Journal of Great Lakes Research, contact Marlene Evans, Editor, National Water Research Institute, Environment Canada, 11 Innovation Boulevard, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 3H5, Canada; jglr@ec.gc.ca; (306) 975-5310.
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