Courtesy Photo

ALPENA — After conducting a thorough species status assessment, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined lake sturgeon will not be listed under the Endangered Species Act.

The service’s 12-month finding shows ongoing management efforts, such as fish stocking, have contributed to the conservation and resiliency of the species.

According to the service’s Midwest Regional Director Will Meeks in a press release, the announcement shows the power of collaborative conservation for lake sturgeon.

“The fact that we’re seeing more and more lake sturgeon populations spawning in their historical habitat is a clear sign that restoration efforts are progressing,” Meeks said in a statement. “This success is credited to many partners including states, tribes, local organizations and others across the country coming together to conserve this species.”

The decision of whether or not lake sturgeon would go under the Endangered Species Act has created lots of backlash in Northeast Michigan as Black Lake is one of two places in the U.S. where spearfishing lake sturgeon is allowed and is regulated by the Department of Natural Resources.

Black Lake chapter President Jay Woiderski, of the nonprofit Sturgeon for Tomorrow, said the group was very happy with the decision.

“We didn’t need the federal government to come in,” Woiderski said. “We’ve been working with other conservation groups and the DNR for 25 years to repopulate sturgeon, so another entity coming in would not have helped.”

Woiderski said that he sent messages to State Rep. Cam Cavitt, R-Cheboygan, and U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet, who represent Northeast Michigan, to thank them for their efforts in opposing any actions to put lake sturgeon on the endangered species list.

Cavitt released a statement on Monday, applauding the decision to keep sturgeon out of the Endangered Species Act.

“Michigan is the national leader in lake sturgeon preservation. It’s great to see the feds recognize our world-class efforts and throw out this bogus attempt to ban lake sturgeon fishing nationwide,” Cavitt said in the statement. “Sturgeon fishing season is basically a holiday in northern Michigan. We teach our kids about the importance of preserving sturgeon populations so we can continue to celebrate the unique fishing season each year.”

In late March, Bergman introduced the Michigan Sturgeon Protected and Exempt from Absurd Regulations Act, or Michigan SPEAR Act, which would prevent the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services from listing Michigan lake sturgeon as an endangered species.