Lake sturgeon may live beyond four centuries, new study suggests

A recent paper in the Journal of Fish Biology reports that lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) could be among the longest-lived vertebrates, with modelled ages for some males exceeding 400 years. Researchers gathered data from over 2,000 fish caught in the Black Lake, Sturgeon River, Menominee River, St. Clair River and Winnebago Lake between 1980 and 2024, recording sex, length and attaching 15-digit transponders for later identification.

Repeated captures allowed calculation of annual growth rates, which were incorporated into equations estimating ages for large individuals; the highest male estimate reached 435 years. While median one outlet estimates for large males ranged from 87 to 215 years, the authors caution that these figures are provisional and require additional validation. The study suggests that lake sturgeon populations may turnover far more slowly than earlier models assumed, with implications for their management and recovery after historic overfishing.