In the spring of 2002, eight adult lake sturgeon were captured with baited setlines and implanted with the ultrasonic transmitters. Six fish moved out into Lake Huron following spawning while the remaining two were tracked moving down river into the North Channel of the St. Clair River. The research transmitters have a battery life of 36 months and as a result allowed information to be collected throughout 2003 and 2004. Throughout 2003 and 2004 the two fish that moved down river were tracked between the North Channel and Lake St. Clair.

In the spring of 2004 six more adult lake sturgeon were captured and implanted with transmitters at the spawning reef near Port Huron. Consistent with the findings in 2002, most of the fish (four of the six) moved out into Lake Huron after spawning while two fish moved down river and again into the North Channel. Of those two fish, one had been previously captured by the Michigan DNR in 2001. The fish had been captured on a spawning reef located in the North Channel near the town of Algonac, Mich., marked with an external Monel tag, and then released back into the river.

In August 2004 the same fish was captured for a third time on a baited set line. Capturing the fish a third time allowed us to examine the surgery location where the ultrasonic transmitter had been implanted three months earlier and also collect information about changes in weight and length. The overall health of the fish was very good and the surgery location was healing nicely.

This effort is just one example of the Service working with states and other federal agencies to achieve common Great Lakes management objectives. Maintaining these collaborative relationships allows for the most efficient use of limited human and fiscal resources, ultimately resulting in faster restoration of lake sturgeon in the Great Lakes.