LANSING, MI (AP)-- State biologists and private groups released more than 5,700 lake sturgeon into public waters across Michigan this summer and fall.
It's part of an ongoing effort to preserve the ancient and culturally significant species. Juvenile sturgeon are collected from the wild in spring and reared in streamside facilities until they reach at least 7 inches long. All fish are tagged before being released into rivers.
Among waters that received sturgeon were Otsego, Mullet and Black lakes and the Sturgeon, Kalamazoo, Cedar, Big Manistee, Upper Black and Whitefish rivers.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources teamed on the project with several American Indian tribes, organizations including Sturgeon for Tomorrow, federal agencies and Michigan State University.