Sturgeons

Lake Sturgeon in Manitoba: some good news about a species once thought to be endangered, and a little myth-busting The Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) is arguably Manitoba’s most interesting fish. Belonging to the ancient Acipenseridae family of fishes, it possesses extensive armoring (scutes) and four barbels that it uses to find food in the murky depths of Manitoba’s largest river systems. Over the course of lifespans exceeding 75 years, females occasionally reach weights of >150 lbs, undoubtedly fueling many stories among anglers about “the one that got away”.

The species has a rich historical significance to local indigenous peoples, and for a rather brief interval it was targeted by massive “boom-and-bust” commercial fisheries. In the early 2000s, Lake Sturgeon populations were surmised to be in very poor shape throughout the province, with worries that stemming overharvest might not be enough to prevent extirpation. Coincident with conservation stocking in some areas of the province, an intense research initiative began, ultimately resulting in a wealth of knowledge being accumulated about the species.

The presentation will summarize what has been learned about Lake Sturgeon in Manitoba over the past 20 years. Attendants can expect to see lots of sturgeon photos, some cool spawning videos (never before seen by the public!), and some myth busting.

Buy tickets at Eventbrite for the Sturgeons workshop