Lake Sturgeon Scheduled for Release into Cumberland River at Shelby Park

NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, in cooperation with the Tennessee Aquarium Research Institute, will be releasing 36 lake sturgeon in the Cumberland River at Shelby Park boat ramp near downtown Nashville. The release is scheduled for Thursday, May 19 at 10 a.m.

 

The sturgeon will range in size from 13-18 pounds. These new additions to Cumberland River will join the 16,000 lake sturgeon, which have been released into the river since 2006 river, to restore its population.

 

The latest release is part of the continued efforts to re-establish one of the largest native fish species in Tennessee waters. Reintroduction of the species in Tennessee began in 2000. Since that time, the TWRA in cooperation with the Tennessee Aquarium Research Institute and several U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fish hatcheries, have released 108,910 lake sturgeon in the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers.

 

The lake sturgeon stocking efforts are part of a long-term program to restore reproducing populations of the primitive species to Tennessee waters. Ultimately, if the program succeeds, the TWRA will be able to allow a managed sport fishery for the largest of Tennessee’s fish species. TWRA partners with various agencies and organizations in its efforts to return lake sturgeon to Tennessee waters.

---TWRA---