Press Releases

This week, 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 successful state-level conservation program and protecting access to responsible fishing.

Molded after H.R.7037 (the SPEAR Act which applies to Wisconsin jurisdictions only), the Michigan SPEAR Act reads, in part, “The lake sturgeon has a unique significance for the culture, communities, and people of Michigan, and especially for those near Black Lake in Northern Michigan. Conservation of sturgeon in Michigan has been a tremendous success story, with the population of adult lake sturgeon statewide rapidly increasing and more than doubling in the last 20 years in Black Lake.”

Rep. Bergman stated, “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. It's time to transfer this authority from the federal government back to the state and local levels where it belongs.”

State Representative Cam Cavitt, whose district encompasses Black Lake, stated, “Sturgeon fishing is part of the cultural fabric of Northeast Michigan. The federal government continues its attempts to overstep and infringe on states' rights, and I’m grateful General Bergman has taken action on this issue. I look forward to supporting these efforts on the state level.”

“We are very happy to support this bill. Thank you to Jack Bergman for supporting our cause and keeping the leadership of this successful turnaround of the Sturgeon population in control of the state government agencies that have already invested over 20 years of effort and research,” said Jay Woiderski, President of Sturgeon for Tomorrow’s Black Lake Chapter.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has stated the bill would have a positive impact on protecting Michigan's lake sturgeon rehabilitation programs.

Read the full text of the bill here.