Lake Sturgeon Rescue and Ongoing Monitoring within Saukiing Anishnaabekiing

Lake Sturgeon Rescue and Ongoing Monitoring at Bruce Power

On October 27, 2025, a Lake Sturgeon was safely rescued from the Bruce A forebay and released back into Lake Huron at Inverhuron Provincial Park — an important effort to protect and preserve this ancient species within Saukiing Anishnaabekiing.

While divers were completing underwater work in the forebay, a curious sturgeon approached and even nudged one of the divers. The divers used a large dip net to safely capture the fish. Nawash Fisheries and the SON Environment Office’s Coastal Waters Monitoring Program (CWMP) were immediately notified and mobilized to support the rescue.

The sturgeon was carefully lifted from the forebay and transferred into a trough equipped with a bubbler to maintain oxygen flow. From there, it was transported by flatbed truck to Inverhuron Provincial Park, where Elisha Jones and Kat Ryan monitored its condition and supported the release. Kat reported that the fish was healthy — it lingered for about 20 minutes before swimming away.

To minimize stress, the fish was tagged externally rather than internally, allowing for future visual identification should it be caught or re-enter the forebay. Measurements showed the sturgeon to be approximately 1.4 metres in length, with the physical characteristics of a male estimated to be around 35–38 years old.

Earlier inspections on October 26 confirmed that two Lake Sturgeon were present in the forebay. Derrick Lavalley has been leading ongoing angling efforts to safely capture and relocate the remaining fish.

Cultural Connection and Offerings

SON Members have long expressed concern regarding the Lake Sturgeon at Bruce Power. On November 1, 2024, SON Members and Knowledge Holders Joanne Helena Keeshig and Holly Fontaine visited the Bruce A forebay and pumphouses to learn about the cooling-water system, impingement and entrainment, and the entrapped sturgeon. Tobacco offerings were made for the sturgeon and the waters.

On May 22, 2025, SON Members Carleen Keeshig, Jocelyn Roote, Brooke Carter, Michele Puddester, Amy Ingram and Brittany Jones visited the site for an Eagle Feather harvest and to offer tobacco for the Lake Sturgeon in the Bruce A forebay. These visits reflect our community’s deep respect for the species and ongoing connection to the waters of Saukiing Anishnaabekiing.

Ongoing Efforts and Next Steps

Rescue efforts at the Bruce A forebay have been challenging. The latest plan was to use a baited setline in addition to angling two to three days a week in an attempt to rescue the remaining sturgeon. A baited setline has not been accomplished to date, and angling has not been successful. The Environment Office has decided to pause angling temporarily to regroup and determine next steps.

Bruce Power intends to carry out a baited setline while flows remain low at Bruce A, and discussions are underway on how that may be achieved.

Additionally, ROV footage from the Bruce B forebay, reviewed by Elisha Jones, revealed a significant and unexpected discovery of four entrapped sturgeon. The sturgeon appear healthy, with access to flowing water and food sources. This discovery significantly expands the scope of ongoing rescue efforts. The Environment Office will continue to monitor these developments closely and ensure that SON Fisheries and Membership are kept informed of any rescue or relocation activities.

Ongoing Stewardship

The SON Environment Office continues to advocate for the protection of Lake Sturgeon and other culturally significant species within our Territory. Our team remains focused on ensuring that appropriate actions are taken to safely return these sturgeon to Lake Huron and that environmental stewardship remains a top priority for SON in the monitoring of industrial activities within Saukiing Anishnaabekiing.

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