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May 26, 2001Old fish finds new friends and gets a chance to liveThe sturgeon has survived the dinosaur, glaciers, Neanderthals and Cro-Magnon, but can it endure long in the 21st century? Maybe, with more volunteer efforts like Sturgeon for Tomorrow, which just spent three weeks patrolling a six-mile stretch of the upper Black River in Cheboygan County to protect this endangered ancient species from poachers during its spawning season. The group was founded three years ago by Brenda and Gil Archambo, who have proven to be fine advocates for the sturgeon and shown that individuals can make a difference. But they cannot do it alone. Some 350 volunteers have joined to help patrol the river around the clock for three weeks to allow the fish to spawn and state fish biologists to collect data for future rehabilitation efforts. The sturgeon has been a resident of the Great Lakes and its tributaries for 10,000 years. Before European settlement, it was long honored by Native Americans as an important part of their culture, providing them food, oil, leather and other staples. They can grow to be 8 or 9 feet long and weigh over 300 pounds. Although they look fearsome with their shark-like tail and rows of armored plates, they are docile and literally toothless, feeding on insects, crustaceans, fish and other organisms on the lake bottom through a protruding vacuum mouth. The monster fish barely survived the 18th century in the Great Lakes when commercial fishermen first slaughtered them because they destroyed fishing nets targeted for other species and then over-fished them once their economic value was understood. Many of the sturgeon species worldwide are nearing extinction. Over-harvesting and habitat loss are major factors. In the Great Lakes, dams on tributary rivers, siltation from deforestation, poor agricultural practices and dredging have taken their toll. Pollution of the Great Lakes has hindered reproductive success. The sturgeon's late maturity and infrequent spawning also have been factors in the decline. Female sturgeon usually are 24 to 26 years old before they first reproduce, males between 8 and 12 even though they take 22 years to fully mature. The females spawn only once ever four to nine years and males once every two to seven years. The female can live up to 150 years, the male 50 to 60. Surveys taken by the Department of Natural Resources paint a bleak picture for this old fish. In 1975, the DNR recorded 1,599 sturgeon in Black Lake. In 1997, the agency found only 549. Poaching, not overfishing, is the main reason. The sturgeon only can be taken from Black Lake during a five-day spearing season in February. Only five fish can be speared through a lottery draw. The season was over in 35 minutes this year. Sturgeon for Tomorrow does more than save an endangered fish. It helps preserve an important barometer of the health and diversity of the entire Great Lakes ecosystem. It rescues humans from the excesses of our own - and much younger - species. The once revered sturgeon is a link to a distant past, a reminder of our connection to the natural environment and the importance of biological diversity. The volunteers' work to save it restores some of the reverence for this prehistoric giant. It does honor to the sturgeon - and the human species as well. |