New Study Reveals Lake Sturgeon Can Live 400 Years in Michigan Great Lakes

Imagine a fish swimming in the Great Lakes today that was alive when the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock.

A groundbreaking new study reveals that lake sturgeon—massive prehistoric fish sometimes called "living dinosaurs"—can live up to 400 years in Michigan's Great Lakes.

That's not a typo. Some of these ancient fish swimming in our waters right now may have been alive before Michigan even had its first permanent European settlers.

A New Way to Measure Age

For decades, scientists estimated lake sturgeon age by examining growth rings in their fins—similar to counting rings on a tree. But this method had limitations.

"The older a fish gets, the harder it is to accurately determine its age using those growth rings," said Edward Baker, manager of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources' Marquette Research Station. "As fish age, they tend to grow slower and those rings become very indistinct."

Baker, who has studied lake sturgeon since the 1990s, said the prevailing belief early in his career was that most lake sturgeon lived only 50 to 60 years.

The Research Method

Researchers relied on decades of catch-and-release data from five fish populations across the upper Great Lakes. By catching, tagging, and releasing lake sturgeon over many years, scientists measured the same fish multiple times and developed a new growth rate equation.

"Some of the fish we have were growing two millimeters a year," Baker explained. "That's hard to measure if you're catching fish three or four years apart. We really needed that 10, 20, or 30-year difference between initial marking and recapture to have measurable change in length."

Staggering Lifespan Results

Using the new growth rate formula, researchers found lake sturgeon live much longer than anyone imagined:

• Male sturgeon: 90 to 279 years
• Female sturgeon: 99 to 427 years

For perspective, the previous oldest recorded lake sturgeon was estimated at just 152 years old.

These findings put lake sturgeon nearly on par with the Greenland shark—the longest-lived vertebrate on Earth.

Why This Matters for Michigan

Lake sturgeon have been around since before the Great Lakes even formed. These ancient creatures are a living connection to Michigan's prehistoric past.

But their future is fragile. According to Baker, less than 1% of the Great Lakes' historic lake sturgeon population remains.

Once considered a nuisance fish, lake sturgeon were heavily harvested during the late 1800s—nearly wiping out the species entirely.

"The sturgeon that we have in the Great Lakes left today are probably those young ones that survived all of that indiscriminate harvest and made it past 1910," Baker said. "They're now reproducing members of populations."

Conservation Efforts in Michigan

The study reinforces the need for strict protections across the Great Lakes. Lake sturgeon don't reproduce quickly, and they don't add new members to their populations easily.

Michigan has several conservation programs working to protect and restore lake sturgeon populations:

• Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery in Mattawan raises lake sturgeon for restocking
• Streamside rearing operations along the Kalamazoo River in Allegan County have helped restock 1,591 lake sturgeon since establishment
• The famous Black Lake sturgeon harvest is strictly limited—last year's harvest limit was just six fish total

How You Can Help

A fish that can live for centuries takes generations to replace. Every lake sturgeon is important to the health of the Great Lakes ecosystem.

Here's how Michiganders can help protect these ancient creatures:

• Support conservation efforts through the Michigan DNR
• Learn about lake sturgeon at the Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery in Mattawan
• Practice catch-and-release if you encounter sturgeon while fishing
• Report sturgeon sightings to help researchers track populations
• Spread awareness about the importance of protecting prehistoric species

Visit the Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery

Want to see these prehistoric giants up close? The Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery in Mattawan offers visitors a chance to spot massive lake sturgeon gliding along the bottom of the hatchery's show pond.

It's a rare opportunity to connect with a creature that has survived on Earth for millions of years—and might live to see the year 2400.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can lake sturgeon live?
According to the new study, male lake sturgeon can live 90 to 279 years, while females can live 99 to 427 years. Some sturgeon swimming in the Great Lakes today may have been alive during the time of the Pilgrims.

Why are they called "living dinosaurs"?
Lake sturgeon have existed since before the Great Lakes formed, making them prehistoric survivors. Their ancient lineage and massive size—up to 9 feet long—give them their "living dinosaur" nickname.

How did scientists discover their true lifespan?
Researchers used decades of catch-and-release data from tagged sturgeon across the upper Great Lakes. By measuring the same fish over 10, 20, or 30-year periods, they developed a new growth rate equation that provides more accurate age estimates than counting fin rings.

Are lake sturgeon endangered?
While not officially endangered, lake sturgeon are a species of concern. Less than 1% of their historic Great Lakes population remains due to overfishing in the late 1800s.

How can I help protect lake sturgeon in Michigan?
You can support the Michigan DNR's conservation efforts, visit the Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery to learn more, practice catch-and-release fishing, report sturgeon sightings, and spread awareness about the importance of protecting these ancient fish.

Source: WWMT News Channel 3

Study published in the Journal of Fish Biology