Lake Sturgeon Sport Fishing Regulations in the Connecting waters of SE Michigan Mike Thomas and Gary Towns

MDNR St. Clair Sturgeon Study Federal Aid study started in 1997

Michigan Closed season from Oct. 1 to July 15 42” to 50” legal harvest size limit 1 fish per season with tag and registration No commercial fishing Ontario No closed SF season No minimum size limit 1 fish per day Commercial species on LH and LSC International Boundary Waters Current Sturgeon Regulations Lake St. Clair Lake Huron St. Clair River Detroit

2003 Michigan Sturgeon Tag Distribution and Fish Check-in Sites Bluewater Bait & Accessories(586) Dixie Hwy 6 am – 8 pm, Seven Days, Fairhaven, MI Lake St. Clair Fisheries Research(586) South River Rd8 am – 4 pm, Mon – Fri, Mt. Clemens, MI Lakeside Fishing Shop(586) Jefferson7 am – 8 pm, Mon – Fri, St. Clair Shores, MI :30 am – 6 pm, Sat6:30 am – 5 pm, Sun Professional Fishing Center(586) Jefferson Ave, 6 am – 9 pm, Mon – Sat Harrison Twp., MI am – 7 pm, Sun SE Michigan DNR Office(734) W Seven Mile Rd, 8 am – 5 pm, Mon – Fri Livonia, MI Information now available on the Web:

Number of tags distributed for sturgeon harvest in SE Michigan,

Sturgeon registered as harvested from St. Clair System

Sturgeon Poaching in the St. Clair Area LED efforts have included: Special surveillance on North Channel Volunteer sturgeon watch program Special RAP reward program Reward posters distributed widely in area Numerous local media contacts highlighting ongoing conservation efforts

Poached: June 2, 2002 Location: Marine City Public Access St. Clair River Charge: Possession of sturgeon during closed season Plead Guilty Sentenced: $2,500 fine including $1,500 restitution Reward: $2,000 RAP tip

Summary: Since 1999, a total of 9 lake sturgeon have been legally harvested (registered) from these waters Over the same time period, 7 lake sturgeon are known to have been poached Assuming that 50% of all poached lake sturgeon are seized by LED, then 14 lake sturgeon have been poached If only 10% are siezed by LED, then 70 lake sturgeon may have been illegally harvested from this system.

Regulatory Considerations: Harvest tag numbers distributed are low Low level of legal harvest is occuring Fall extension of season was considered, but not enacted  No public pressure for extension  Counter to efforts to push for more restrictive regs. in Ontario waters  Illegal harvest may be substantial and extension could exacerbate it