DNRE Announces 2011 Black Lake Sturgeon Season Harvest Results
Published: Saturday, March 12, 2011 7:00 am
By: Department of Natural Resources and Environment
The 2011 Black Lake sturgeon harvest season ended on the opening day, Feb. 5, with the quota of seven fish being attained, along with an additional harvest of four fish, said Department of Natural Resources and Environment officials. The fishing season, which includes spearing or hook and line fishing, was scheduled to run from Feb. 5-9, or until the harvest total of seven fish had been reached.
"Water clarity was excellent opening day, weather was beautiful, and fish were moving," said Tim Cwalinski, DNRE fisheries biologist. "In addition, we had 330 registered anglers on the ice, an increase from 255 the year before."
The first fish was registered very soon after 8 a.m. on opening day, while the seventh fish was harvested exactly at noon. The quota hotline was updated within five minutes of seeing the seventh fish, and DNRE conservation officers were on patrol on the lake immediately notifying all anglers within the next 45 minutes.
"Our response was very quick, but some additional fish were taken beyond the quota right around the noon hour," said Cwalinski.
Harvested sturgeon ranged in length from 29 to 68 inches long, with weight going from five to 73 pounds. Some young fish were captured that may have been raised at the streamside hatchery operation on the Black River.
"The presence of young fish in the harvest is a positive sign that our rehabilitation efforts are working," said DNRE Fisheries Division Unit Supervisor Dave Borgeson."Harvest of immature fish may take the burden off the larger reproducing females in the population."
According to Borgeson, the DNRE along with Sturgeon for Tomorrow (SFT) have set a conservative harvest rate for the Black Lake fishing season. "It is unfortunate that the quota was breached, but our very low harvest quota acts as a buffer to such events. This overharvest may occur in some years but other years no fish were harvested or the quota was not fully reached," said Borgeson.
"The quota is set at just over one percent of the estimated breeding results which is very, very low, and the overages of the quota are still within the safety net in protecting sturgeon stock," said SFT President Brenda Archambo.
DNRE and SFT will continue to work together in the future to try to optimize participation in the fishery while keeping harvest rates within the quota.
"We have made some very popular changes with the season the last two years, and the anglers, SFT,and Fisheries Division are generally pleased with the results," Cwalinski said. "Obviously, we realize we still have to make some adjustments, and we will continue to work together to shorten the response time while maintaining this popular fishery."
DNRE will continue to work with SFT, Michigan State University, tribal governments, and Tower-Kleber Unlimited to enhance the Cheboygan watershed sturgeon population and fishery.
The Department of Natural Resources and Environment is committed to the conservation, protection, management, and accessible use and enjoyment of the state's environment, natural resources, and related economic interests for current and future generations. Learn more at www.michigan.gov/dnre.
