Hundreds of lake sturgeon released into Tennessee River

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute and students from Girls Inc. released hundreds of Lake Sturgeons into the Tennessee River on Thursday. 

Lake Sturgeons are harmless shark-like fish that can grow up to be 300 pounds. 

“A group of partners came together in the late 1990s and early 2000s and began this incredible program to raise lake sturgeon from Wisconsin, to bring them down here to Chattanooga,” said Dr. Anna George, Vice President of Conservation and Science at Tennessee Aquarium. “We release them back into the environment so that we can have a healthy lake sturgeon population back in Tennessee.” 

This program helped teach students how to keep the environment clean for endangered species. 

“I like really getting into the water and really being able to release stuff back into their habitats,” said Skylar Armour, student with Girls Inc. 

The lake sturgeon program has been active in Chattanooga for more than 30 years. 

Since 1998, the aquarium has helped release more than 330,000 lake sturgeons into the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers. 

Tennessee Aquarium officials say conservation of these species is important. 

“Whether it is coming out here today with us and releasing a lake sturgeon, making a choice about what types of fertilizers we use on our lawn. Maybe trying to reduce them or just very simple things  like using the river and enjoying this beautiful resource we have here in downtown Chattanooga. We make sure we are all appreciating and protecting this beautiful environment that we have here in Tennessee,” Dr. George concluded.