[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 683 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 683

                  Raising awareness of lake sturgeon.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 22, 2026

Mr. Welch submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
               Committee on Environment and Public Works

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
                  Raising awareness of lake sturgeon.

Whereas lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) are some of the largest North 
        American freshwater fishes 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 among the oldest fish species 
        still in existence;
Whereas lake sturgeon are slow to reproduce as they may not spawn until they are 
        at least 10 to 30 years old, and they only spawn every 4 years on 
        average;
Whereas lake sturgeon are found across the Great Lakes, the 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 an ecosystem's 
        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
    Resolved, 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 collaboration with Canada to jointly manage 
        and increase lake sturgeon populations in our shared waters;
            (3) continued efforts to identify, protect, and restore the 
        habitat of lake sturgeon;
            (4) continued efforts to prevent and control the spread of 
        invasive species and restore the reproductive habitat of lake 
        sturgeon;
            (5) increased public awareness of lake sturgeon; and
            (6) the education of anglers and local communities on the 
        proper ways to handle lake sturgeon if caught.
                                 <all>