They’re affectionately known as the Gentle Giant of the Great Lakes.
Often more than six feet long and well over 200 pounds, lake sturgeon earned an early reputation for wreaking havoc on fishing equipment and boats.
Lake Huron and the St. Clair River are home to these “bottom feeders,” which are the largest fish in the Great Lakes. Female lake sturgeon typically live between 80 and 150 years, while the lifespan of males can extend to 55 years.
In an effort to increase awareness about the need to protect the freshwater lake sturgeon, Friends of the St. Clair River in 2012 hosted the first Blue Water Sturgeon Fest in Port Huron, Michigan.
Celebrating its 15-year anniversary, the 2026 edition of the event is slated for Saturday, June 6. Michiganders are encouraged to come out and meet some of the State’s “underwater celebrities.”
Sturgeon history
As early as the late 1800s, commercial fishers started to view lake sturgeon as gourmet food, rather than as nuisance fish that destroyed their equipment and boats, according to Friends of the St. Clair River.
Their eggs became a source of caviar and also provided isinglass—"fish glue”—used in cooking and beverages for its thickening properties.
Unfortunately, the newfound popularity of harvesting lake sturgeons contributed to a decline in its population, habitat loss and introduction of invasive species.
In 1994, Michigan listed the lake sturgeon as a threatened species, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Festival staples include the live sturgeon touch tank, at left, and sturgeon release into the St. Clair River, right.
“Sturgeon have been around since dinosaurs roamed the earth,” shared Sheri Faust, executive director of Friends of the St. Clair River, founded in 2007.
“They historically have faced declines in population from overharvesting and poaching.”
In an effort to stabilize the population, the DNR and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) visit the shores of Lake Huron and the St. Clair River each May to capture and tag lake sturgeon.
The tags record essential information, such as age, growth and health of the population. Findings from the tagging effort helps inform restoration efforts.
Sturgeon Fest 2026
The annual Sturgeon Fest showcases the restoration efforts and the importance of conservation in protecting sensitive habitats and waterways.
“Among the many activities at Sturgeon Fest, the live sturgeon touch tank is a highlight of the event,” said Faust. “The touch tank provides attendees the chance to meet our notable underwater celebrity before it is released back into the water.”
Sturgeon Fest offers two unique experiences—the ship experience aboard the Huron Lady and the shore experience at the lighthouse park. The ship experience requires advance ticket purchase.
“Enbridge is proud to be a sponsor of this event,” said Kirstie Staelens, Enbridge senior community engagement advisor. “The collective restoration efforts highlight the importance of taking care of our rivers, lakes, and other waterways, which Enbridge wholeheartedly supports.”
This year, Enbridge has adopted a sturgeon named Current—one of the tagged lake sturgeons that’s contributing vital information to the restoration and stabilization of the lake sturgeon population.
For additional information or to purchase tickets for the Sturgeon cruises, click here.
Aaron Baranowski, an Enbridge electric technician from the Marysville, MI, area, with his kids hold adoption papers for Current the sturgeon.
