Sturgeon released in Ontonagon River

ONTONAGON — Michigan Department of Natural Resources officials said Tuesday 759 lake sturgeon have been released into the Ontonagon River.

The fish were stocked on Sept. 19 in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, according to the DNR.

Over the spring and summer, the DNR and its partners released more than 12,000 juvenile lake sturgeon into public waters, part of an effort to rehabilitate the species.

This year’s total is twice the number stocked in 2017.

Total lake sturgeon stocked numbered 12,374.

Lake sturgeon eggs and larvae were collected from the wild in April and May and then reared in stream-side facilities until they were large enough to tag. To allow for future evaluations, most fish were tagged before being released.

“Many of these stocking efforts were public events that showcased the importance of lake sturgeon to Michigan, and the partnerships that help us protect them for future generations,” said MDNR Fisheries Division Chief Jim Dexter.

The lake sturgeon is on Michigan’s Threatened Species list.

—Ralph Ansami