LANSING, Mich. (WLKI)- A new bill in the Michigan House would increase penalties for people who illegally take or possess lake sturgeon.
House Bill 6409 was introduced by State Representative Cam Cavitt, a Republican from Cheboygan. The measure would raise the maximum fine for violations involving the threatened fish.
Lake sturgeon are among Michigan's oldest and most distinctive native fish. They can live for decades, but their slow growth and low reproduction rates make them especially vulnerable to overharvesting.
Michigan listed lake sturgeon as a threatened species in 1994, and regulations are already in place to protect their population.
Cavitt said stronger penalties would give law enforcement and courts another tool to deter poaching.
"Michigan's lake sturgeon are a living piece of our state's natural history, and we have a responsibility to protect them," Cavitt said in a statement.
The bill has been referred to the Michigan House Committee on Natural Resources and Tourism for consideration.
The legislation must pass the House and Senate before it could be sent to Governor Gretchen Whitmer for consideration.