North Michigan News

On April 23, 2024, following pressure from lawmakers, including the introduction of Representative Bergman’s Michigan SPEAR Act, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that lake sturgeon does not warrant a listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

"In a major victory for the First District, lake sturgeon will not be designated an endangered species, effectively keeping the responsibility of conservation and coordination where it belongs – with our tribes, anglers, and the state. This authority was always meant to be localized, and after pressure from my colleagues and I, our bureaucracy has finally recognized that,” stated Rep. Jack Bergman.

Last month, Rep. Jack Bergman introduced the Michigan Sturgeon Protected and Exempt from Absurd Regulations Act, or Michigan SPEAR Act. This legislation aims to exclude lake sturgeon in Michigan from a federal designation under the Endangered Species Act, continuing the successful state-level conservation program and protecting access to responsible fishing.

Modeled after H.R.7037 (the SPEAR Act which applies to Wisconsin jurisdictions only), the Michigan SPEAR Act emphasizes the significance of lake sturgeon for the culture, communities, and people of Michigan, especially those near Black Lake in Northern Michigan. It highlights the success story of sturgeon conservation in Michigan, with the population of adult lake sturgeon statewide rapidly increasing and more than doubling in the last 20 years in Black Lake.

This decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service aligns with the efforts of Rep. Jack Bergman and other lawmakers to ensure responsible fishing practices while recognizing the importance of localized conservation initiatives.

Read the full text of the bill [here](link) or read the story in the Detroit Free Press [here](link).