Researchers and biologists in Wisconsin have teamed up over the weekend to collect and fertilize sturgeon eggs and assist in the restoration of the fish population.
The sturgeon spawning season is normally during mid-April to early May when the primitive fish species travel upstream to their spawning grounds, such as Wolf River in Wisconsin. Warm temperature triggers sturgeon spawning.
The restoration efforts include collecting and fertilizing eggs from the sturgeon then shipping the fertilized eggs elsewhere, as far east as Tennessee. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is attempting to restore a naturally reproducing population of sturgeons in the Milwaukee River and also boost the population of the fish in Lake Michigan.
Sturgeons normally spawn in shallow places such as rocky river banks, a phenomenon that attracts many people to witness. Male fish normally swim alongside the females that drop their eggs. Male sturgeons then release their sperm to fertilize the eggs before they stick to the rocks.
The Wisconsin DNR revealed that the agency has its crew on the Winnebago System to tag the sturgeons and collect their eggs. The department said that its crew members have handled and tagged more than 1,500 fish this season.
"This was especially a productive day because we also collected and fertilized eggs for multiple sturgeon restoration projects, which significantly slows us down compared to just collecting and tagging fish. As anticipated this year's spawning run has progressed quite rapidly," stated the DNR.
The fish species is one of the oldest known to humans. Fossil records of the fish suggest that it was present about 100 million years ago and it swam with the dinosaurs. The DNR has barred poaching of the sturgeon fish. Volunteers and wardens are usually positioned in many regions to stop people from disturbing the sturgeons during their spawning season.
Sturgeons can live for about 125 years, and a fully grown adult fish can weigh up to 200 pounds. The DNR crew have tagged a female sturgeon this season that measures 6 feet and 5 inches and weighs 180 pounds. The officials believe that tagging is an effective way to keep track of the fish population.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region | Flickr
