Lake Sturgeon by Dave Brenner, Michigan Sea Grant

Michigan State University researchers found evidence that lake sturgeon may routinely live well beyond 200 years, with some approaching 300 years — far longer than scientists previously believed:

Using decades of capture-and-recapture records from five Great Lakes populations, researchers found that in some populations many lake sturgeon may routinely live well beyond 200 years, with some approaching 300 years.

“Scientists have long recognized that lake sturgeon are among North America’s longest-lived freshwater fish,” said Scott Colborne, assistant professor in Michigan State University’s Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. “But the new study suggests they may live far longer than previously appreciated. These fish are a living connection to history”.

…One conversation during the project particularly resonated with Colborne. While discussing the research with a tribal community member, he learned that some Indigenous communities had long believed lake sturgeon could live as long as 400 years. “That was one of those goosebump moments,” Colborne said. “Here we were using modern analytical approaches, and they were pointing us toward something that Indigenous communities had long understood — that these fish live incredibly long lives.“

If you have followed recent Native-led efforts to restore Lake Sturgeon you will unquestionably have heard of nmé referred to as Grandfather Sturgeon. Speaking of those efforts, if you’re near Traverse City on September 12, you can join the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians 3rd Annual Sturgeon Release. If you’re near MSU on September 25, you can celebrate 25 years of the Black River Sturgeon Rearing Program.

Michigan Sea Grant’s Dave Brenner took this shot back in 2009. See more in their Great Lakes Fish gallery on Flickr.