Stocking of lake sturgeon in various regions of the Great Lakes is becoming an increasingly popular management strategy. However, several genetic risks are inherent in stocking, including outbreeding depression, loss of genetic diversity, and artificial selection. Of particular concern has been the potential effect of restoration stocking on remnant populations. 

To address this need and help support lake sturgeon rehabilitation in the Great Lakes, a document entitled “Genetic Guidelines for the Stocking of Lake Sturgeon in the Great lakes Basin” has been developed.  These guidelines are based on several years of standardizes research by multiple laboratories and agencies that have studied the genetic structure and characteristics of remnant lake sturgeon populations throughout the Great Lakes.  These guidelines identify eight genetic stocking units throughout the Great Lakes, establish criteria for the identification of priority populations for genetic preservation, and provide a decision tree that aids in the selection of appropriate stocking sites and donor populations.  These guidelines then provide recommendations for the design and implementation of stocking programs. Recommendations are provided for the number of consecutive years stocking should occur, the number of adults to use for gamete collection, rearing procedures in the hatchery, number of individuals to be stocked, and post-stocking monitoring procedures.

The Service has been heavily involved in this effort.  Amy Welsh, a geneticist with SUNY-Oswego has lead preparation of this document with funding assistance from the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act.  Rob Elliott from the Green Bay NFWCO and Henry Quinlan from the Ashland NFWCO both are primary co-authors, along with Kim Scribner (Michigan State University), Chuck Krueger (Great Lakes Fishery Commission), and Bernie May (University of California at Davis).  

This summer, the document was distributed to representatives of all Great Lakes fish management agencies via the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission Lake and Lake Technical Committees for final review prior to publication as a special report by the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission.

Contact: Rob Elliott, USFWS, Green Bay NFWCO, robert_elliott@fws.gov