Northern Michigan Lawmaker Pushes Stricter Penalties for Lake Sturgeon Poaching

# Northern Michigan Lawmaker Pushes Stricter Penalties for Lake Sturgeon Poaching

LANSING, MI — State Representative Cam Cavitt (R-Cheboygan) introduced a bill on Thursday that would more than double the maximum fine for illegally taking or possessing lake sturgeon, calling it a necessary step to protect one of the Great Lakes' oldest and most endangered species.

House Bill 6409 would amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to raise the maximum penalty for poaching lake sturgeon from $2,000 to $5,000. Under current law, violations carry a maximum of 180 days in prison and a fine of $500 to $2,000.

The bill follows the July discovery of a 71-inch lake sturgeon dumped on the shoulder of Durham Road near a White River access point in Muskegon County. Members of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources put out a public call for information about the incident.

Fishing for lake sturgeon is prohibited in Michigan except in a few designated locations across the state, and the White River is not among them. Any sturgeon caught incidentally while fishing for other species must be released immediately.

Lake sturgeon are the only sturgeon species in Michigan and have been listed as a threatened species since 1994. According to Michigan Sea Grant, the fish can live for 55 to 150 years, making them among the longest-lived species in the Great Lakes.

"Michigan's lake sturgeon are a living piece of our state's natural history, and we have a responsibility to protect them," Cavitt said in a statement. "When someone illegally takes one of these fish, the consequences must reflect the seriousness of that violation. Increasing the maximum penalty gives law enforcement and the courts a stronger tool to deter poaching and protect this magnificent species for future generations."

The bill has been referred to the House Natural Resources and Tourism Committee.

The DNR encourages anyone with information about wildlife poaching to contact its Report All Poaching Hotline by calling or texting 800-292-7800 or by submitting a form online.