Lake sturgeon from Genoa greeting visitors to the Great Lakes Adventure Program. L. Palermo, 7-2008.

Great Lakes Ambassadors from Genoa NFH. L. Palermo. 7-2008.

This summer, four healthy lake sturgeon raised at Genoa National Fish Hatchery were invited to serve as Ambassadors of the Great Lakes in their very own program as part of a week-long program series, Great Lakes Adventure, produced by the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland, Ohio. The sturgeon’s program opened at the Film Premier of Mysteries of the Great Lakes, an IMAX film that was co-produced by the Great Lakes Science Center to introduce the ecology of the Great Lakes Region and explore the wonders of the Great Lakes. Great Lakes Adventure was a huge success, attracting over 4500 visitors to the science center that week; Genoa’s lake sturgeon were a big part of that success, greeting 2050 people that attended Mysteries of the Great Lakes. After the program series, the young lake sturgeon found a permanent home at the Natural History Museum, where they will continue to serve as ambassadors of the Great Lakes Region.

Four more healthy sturgeon from Genoa found a new permanent home at the Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester, New York. This facility helps educate all ages about science and environmental issues, and teaches how humans may have a positive of negative effect on ecosystems, habitat, and the plants and animals that are an essential part of them. Now, with lake sturgeon as part of the program, visitors can learn about the lake sturgeon life cycle, their biology and anatomy, and why this ancient species needs our help to survive in the wild. The Seneca Park Zoo greets more than 300,000 visitors annually.

Genoa has been raising lake sturgeon to support federal, state, and tribal restoration efforts in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Missouri since 1995. Threatened populations have suffered overharvest and habitat destruction since the late 1800s, and because female lake sturgeon may not reproduce until they are 22 years or more, restoration efforts will take many years to reach the goal of establishing self-sustaining populations. These new partners promise to be a strong voice for conservation awareness, and will help teach millions why this ancient species needs our help to survive in the wild.