S.Res. 649 — Introduced in Senate

III 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 649 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 18, 2024Mr. Welch submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works RESOLUTION Raising awareness of lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens). Whereas lake sturgeon are one of the largest North American freshwater fish and can live for 150 years or longer; Whereas lake sturgeon are considered living fossils, as their lineage dates back to the time of dinosaurs, making them one of the oldest fish species still in existence; Whereas lake sturgeon are slow to reproduce as they may not spawn until they are 15 to 25 years old and they only spawn every 4 years on average; Whereas lake sturgeon are found across the Great Lakes, northeastern United States, and southeastern Canada; Whereas lake sturgeon are bottom-dwelling fish that require extensive areas of shallow water to feed on a wide variety of organisms; Whereas historical overfishing, invasive species, and habitat degradation have caused declines in the population of local lake sturgeon; Whereas many States list lake sturgeon as an endangered, threatened, or otherwise protected species; Whereas lake sturgeon serve an important role as an indicator of ecosystem health; Whereas lake sturgeon attract the attention of the public because of their large size and prehistoric body; Whereas many Federal agencies, States, Tribes, and local communities are collaborating on lake sturgeon management programs that are reestablishing healthy lake sturgeon populations; and Whereas lake sturgeon have cultural importance for many indigenous communities, representing a traditional food source: Now, therefore, be it That the Senate encourages— (1) continued collaboration among Federal, State, Tribal, and other partners to manage and increase lake sturgeon populations across their extensive range; (2) continued efforts to identify, protect, and restore the habitat of lake sturgeon; (3) continued efforts to prevent and control invasive species and restore the reproductive habitat of lake sturgeon; (4) increased public awareness of lake sturgeon; and (5) education of anglers and local communities on the proper ways to handle lake sturgeon if accidentally caught.