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Outdoors
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In late March, Rep. Jack Bergman introduced the Michigan Sturgeon Protected and Exempt from Absurd Regulations Act or Michigan SPEAR Act. This legislation would exclude lake sturgeon in Michigan from a potential upcoming federal designation under the Endangered Species Act, continuing the state-level conservation program.
Molded after H.R.7037 (the SPEAR Act which applies to Wisconsin jurisdictions only), the Michigan SPEAR Act reads, in part, “The spearing season is a cultural event in Northern Michigan, with hundreds of anglers and other visitors attending the ‘Black Lake Sturgeon Shivaree’ to celebrate and raise money for lake sturgeon recovery, protection, hatcheries, research, habitat conservation and outreach programs.”
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has stated the bill would have a positive impact on protecting Michigan’s lake sturgeon rehabilitation programs, according to Bergman.
“As a result of the species management in Michigan, a federal Endangered Species Act designation is now unnecessary for the sturgeon and would hinder efforts of conservation and coordination between local tribes, anglers, and the state,” Bergman said in a news release. “It’s time to transfer this authority from the federal government back to the state and local levels where it belongs.”