Northern Michigan lawmaker calls for stricter penalties on Lake Sturgeon poaching

After members of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources put out a call for information about a six-foot lake sturgeon dumped at the side of the road in Muskegon County in July, a northern Michigan lawmaker is calling for stronger punishments to protect the threatened fish.

Lake sturgeon are among the oldest species living in the Great Lakes and can live for 55 to 150 years, according to Michigan Sea Grant. They are the only sturgeon species in Michigan and have been listed as a threatened species since 1994.

According to the Department of Natural Resources, a 71-inch sturgeon was dumped on Durham Road near an access to the White River in July. Fishing for Lake Sturgeon is prohibited except for in a few locations across the state, which do not include the White River. Any sturgeon cough while fishing for other species must be released immediately.

On Thursday, state Rep. Cam Cavitt (R-Cheboygan) introduced House Bill 6409, which would amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to increase the fines for illegally taking or possessing lake sturgeon. 

Current penalties include up to 180 days in prison and a fine ranging from $500 to $2,000. Cavitt’s bill would increase the fine to $5,000.

“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.”

House Bill 6409 was referred to the House Natural Resources and Tourism Committee.

The DNR advises anyone with information on poaching to contact its Report All Poaching Hotline by calling or texting 800-292-7800 or filling out a form online.