Recipe for Recovery of Lake Sturgeon in the Winnebago System, 1874 – 2012

The Winnebago System in east central Wisconsin is home to one of the largest lake sturgeon populations in North America; which has experienced a full recovery from critically low levels during the mid 20^th Century.  The recipe for recovery includes effective regulations and law enforcement, sound population and harvest assessments, habitat restoration and protection, public involvement, and luck.  The recovery was slowly shaped over time by management decisions beginning in 1874. Dozens of regulations have been implemented to effectively control exploitation.  Population and harvest assessments since 1941 have been continuously improved to provide data necessary to understand stock dynamics and densities, and fishing and natural mortality.  Habitat has been protected and improved to sustain extensive spawning, nursery, and “fattening-up” areas.  The public has been meaningfully engaged over the years to create an intense public ownership in the sturgeon program.  Finally, luck has played a role in the timely impact of critical environmental conditions, individuals, and organizations all positively contributing to the recovery.  From a critical low point in the mid 20^th Century, adult lake sturgeon have increased fourfold approaching full recovery in 2012 while maintaining a robust recreational spear fishery currently with over 12,000 participants harvesting 1400 fish annually.