Sturgeon at registration station at Indian Point on Lake Poygan, February 12, 2024. PC: Fox 11 Online
FOND DU LAC COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — As the 2024 sturgeon spearing season slowly rolls on, many are thinking about an upcoming June 30 federal ruling that could put the prehistoric fish on the endangered species list.
The Lake Winnebago ice conditions were reported to be less than ideal.
“We walked out. We put everything in sleds. Like everybody else is doing too. You just got to do what you got to do this year,” said Jeff Paulus, Kewaskum.
Jeff Paulus says he’ll remember opening day as the time he speared his very first sturgeon. But some fear the decades-old tradition may be in danger.
“U.S. Fish & Wildlife was petitioned back in 2018 to look into the sturgeon populations, to identify whether or not a listing would be warranted,” said Margaret Stadig, DNR Sturgeon Biologist.
Margaret Stadig says possibly adding lake sturgeon to the Endangered Species Act will take many steps.
“U.S. Fish & Wildlife actually has a lot of different options they can take, which makes it very difficult to try and predict what they could do. They could decide to list some populations, and not others. They could actually decide to list as threatened, but give the Wildlife Service what’s called a 4 (d) rule, which means that basically state government, and state regulations would continue to go on as necessary for the conservation of the fish, which means the sturgeon spearing season would continue on, because it’s part of our management plan,” she said.
The 16-day spearing campaign brings an estimated $3.5 million economic impact to the area. A determination from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is looming.
“The initial decision is due June 30th. If they do decide to list, then there is going to be a public comment period,” said Stadig.
Meanwhile Jeff Paulus says he hopes his 40-pound sturgeon won’t be his last.
“I hope it doesn’t close. I really don’t. This is such a great thing for this whole area. And all the businesses and everything. And I hope it doesn’t close. It’s not in our hands anymore, but let’s hope the vote goes in our favor,” he said.
The sturgeon spearing season ends on February 25.
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