“We’re really looking at what is the current status of sturgeon in the Grand River, like how many sturgeon are there, are they reproducing, and it’s kind of the first steps to conserving these animals.”
Bill Flanagan is the conservation manager at John Ball Zoo. He says it’s not necessarily all about the fish.
“It’s really about taking a look at the health of the Grand River in general. This is probably one of the most iconic species in Michigan.”
Flanagan says the partners survey sturgeon at nighttime, capturing them and taking genetic samples, then tag and release them. They also monitor the fish using sonar technology.
“We can do that without having to try and net them.”
The data gathered helps the partners learn where sturgeon is reproducing so spawning habitats can be conserved.
“We don’t know as much as we’d like to about how they’re doing in Grand Rapids and the Grand River, so this is a great way for us to get out and look for this iconic species, get the information we need to make sure that it persists for generations into the future.”
The partners have had a successful season so far, spotting many juvenile sturgeon - a clear indicator of successful reproduction.
