Sturgeon up for adoption

A new program has been introduced allowing people to adopt a fish known as a living dinosaur.

Further information is included in the following news release issued by the Lake Nipissing Stewardship Council:


The Lake Nipissing Stewardship Council (LNSC) is introducing the “Adopt a Sturgeon” Program, an exciting new fundraising initiative to support assessment and research of Lake Nipissing’s living dinosaur.

For a contribution of $100, the “Adopt a Sturgeon” Program entitles sponsors to:
• an exciting day trip at the South River MNR tagging site in the Township of Nipissing
• an 8 x 10 photo of sponsor (spouse, child) with their sturgeon
• biological information relating to their sturgeon and periodic updates as it is recaptured
• an LNSC membership

Limit of two adults per fish or one adult and three children per fish; age limit is four years of age and over.

The lake sturgeon is the largest and oldest freshwater fish in North America. This ancient family of fishes has been recognized since the Upper Cretaceous period (136 million years ago) at a time when dinosaurs were at the height of their development. Today lake sturgeon exist in much the same form as they did back then. They are a slow maturing fish that has been known to live more than 150 years and can measure up to 7 feet in length. In the last century, their population has been threatened by commercial over-fishing plus habitat loss and degradation.

Although the Lake Nipissing sturgeon population is stressed, strides have been made towards its recovery. The commercial and sport fisheries were closed in 1991 and water quality in the Sturgeon River is improving. In the last decade, habitat rehabilitation and re-stocking projects have been initiated and in 2001, the LNSC introduced an assessment/monitoring program.

It is through such initiatives as the “Adopt a Sturgeon” campaign that the LNSC is able to enhance its programs, educate the public and develop new and innovative projects to strengthen the Lake Nipissing ecosystem and serve the interests of its many stakeholders.

The LNSC, a non-profit charitable organization, participates in the management of the Lake Nipissing ecosystem and works closely with government ministries, municipalities and other organizations to implement projects and perform practical research and assessment activities. The “Adopt a Sturgeon” Program is a key element of LNSC’s mandate to "preserve, protect, restore & improve" the natural resources and environment of Lake Nipissing.