MICHIGAN, USA — Saugatuck Brewing Company is teaming up with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to raise awareness and funds for the conservation of the Lake Sturgeon, a threatened species in the state.
Patrick Bertel, a representative from the DNR, emphasized the importance of safeguarding the species, stating, “Lake Sturgeon should be more readily available for people. Yet, here it is still waving its fin at us, saying, I’m still here, and now it’s our turn to take care of them.”
Bertel continued, “We got together and said, how can we share the vision of protecting our natural resources while you make good beer, and we do our fish work?”
In a bid to support the cause, Saugatuck Brewing is set to introduce “Lake Street Light,” a new beer created in collaboration with the DNR’s Lake Sturgeon Program. Launching in April, a portion of the proceeds from each sale will go toward Lake Sturgeon habitat restoration efforts.
This new beer is a light, 96-calorie brew with a 4% alcohol by volume (ABV), inspired by Michigan’s abundant waterways and lakes. Bertel explained that the sturgeon plays a crucial role in Michigan’s aquatic ecosystems and stressed the importance of maintaining a stable reproductive cycle for the species.
“We need to make sure the reproductive event doesn’t have any hiccups,” Bertel noted. “Habitat connectivity for their life cycle is vital—sturgeons need to travel from large lakes to rivers with suitable environments, such as gravel, cobble, and limestone beds.”
The “Lake Street Light x Lake Sturgeon Program” is a continuation of a previous successful partnership between Saugatuck Brewing and the DNR. Last year, the collaboration raised $10,000 for Michigan’s trout restoration. However, Bertel pointed out that the fishing season for sturgeon this year was exceptionally brief, lasting only 17 minutes, as the harvest quota of six sturgeon was quickly reached.
Bertel expressed hope that the new initiative will help ensure the survival of the Lake Sturgeon, a species that can live for over 100 years. “An individual sturgeon in Lake Michigan could have been alive since before World War II, maybe even before World War I. I really would like to have the courage to look them in the eyes respectfully and say, I got your back,” he said.
The DNR stresses that the protection of sturgeon habitats is critical to the species’ continued existence, highlighting the need for safe, sustainable environments for these ancient fish to thrive.
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