07/31/2026
As nears a close, we wanted to take a moment to talk about the goals for the species set by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and how things are looking for Lake Sturgeon on Black Lake specifically.
Black Lake sturgeon management has 5 main objectives:
🔹 Develop a population of 1,600 to 2,000 adult fish by 2030
🔹 Achieve natural recruitment (reproduction in the wild) levels that will sustain an adult Lake Sturgeon population.
🔹 Support a fishery with a maximum catch rate appropriate for the classification status defined in the Rehabilitation Strategy.
🔹 Determine habitat limitations of the Upper Black River and Black Lake by 2025
🔹 Maintain and encourage annual public involvement in Lake Sturgeon efforts on Black Lake.
So how are we doing?
1️⃣ The goal for this waterbody is 1,600 to 2,000 adult fish by 2030...we're getting there! Through stocking and natural reproduction, the numbers are looking better and the goal is feasible.
2️⃣ There's a good indication that natural recruitment of new sturgeon is occurring, but it takes over 15 years for these fish to reach maturity. Stocking sturgeon may not be needed in coming years, but those decisions are made in collaboration with partner groups.
3️⃣ There is indeed a fishing season for Lake Sturgeon on Black Lake, which is notoriously known as the shortest fishing season ever (sometimes over within less than an hour). The harvest rate is set to around 1.2% and the fish that are caught during that season help provide an additional glimpse for researchers regarding the health of the lake's sturgeon population.
4️⃣ Collaborative research between the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Michigan State University helps identify limitations to natural reproduction. While fish are spawning, things like dams do prohibit some of those spawning areas from being used fully.
5️⃣ One of the biggest successes is the dedication of the local communities and even people from around the country who participate through Sturgeon for Tomorrow's Black Lake chapter and individuals who join as Sturgeon Guardians during spawning season. These partners provide critical outreach on behalf of sturgeon to bring more hands to the effort of conservation of this species.
If you want to know more about how you can get involved in helping the recovery of Lake Sturgeon (not just in Black Lake, but all over the Great Lakes) we encourage you to check out our post from yesterday highlighting some amazing community events and opportunities.
