USFWS Presents 90-Day Finding on Petition to List the Lake Sturgeon

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) released a 90-day finding on August 15, 2019, in response to a petition to federally list the Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) under the Endangered Species Act. This fish species occurs across the temperate zone freshwater systems of North America, from the Great Lakes through the Mississippi River drainage area. Although historically abundant throughout their range, the lake sturgeon has significantly declined over the past two centuries, with several states listing the fish as a species of concern, threatened, or as endangered.

Characteristics of the Lake Sturgeon

The lake sturgeon is
a slow-moving fish that prefers sand or gravel habitat on the river or lake
bottom, but they will migrate upriver during spawning season. Although the male
sturgeon’s typical lifespan is 50 to 60 years, female sturgeon can live up to
150 years. Lake sturgeon can weigh more than 300 pounds and reach a length of 9
feet.

Once considered a
nuisance fish because they damaged fishing gear, this species became
commercially important in the late 1800s, harvested for their meat and eggs.
Unsustainable harvest, degraded water quality, and construction of dams that
disrupt their movements have combined to cause sturgeon populations to decline
throughout their range.

The release of this
substantial finding indicates that the grounds of the petition may be
warranted, and the USFWS will conduct a thorough status assessment. USFWS found
that the petition presented a compelling case to list the lake sturgeon, citing
the potential threats associated with dams and hydroelectric facilities,
dredging and channelization, contaminants and habitat fragmentation, and
impacts from invasive species.

Upcoming 12-Month Assessment

Currently, the USFWS has added the Lake Sturgeon to the national listing Workplan, which determines when the 12-month assessment will begin. USFWS will collect information from species experts, conservation groups, state and tribal agencies, and other sources that inform their assessment of the lake sturgeon. Results from the assessment will indicate whether or not listing the lake sturgeon under the Endangered Species Act is warranted.

The Federal Register docket numbers and links for the substantial petition finding for lake sturgeon are FWS–R3–ES–2018–0110 and  https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=FWS-R3-ES-2018-0110.

EnviroScience has
considerable fisheries experience, including with related species such as the
Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) and Gulf Sturgeon (Acipenser
oxyrinchus desotoi).  If you believe
your operations may be affected by this or a similar listing, reach out to our
experts at info@EnviroScienceInc.com.