1-25-24 grothman, gallagher introduce spear act to protect sturgeon spearing in wisconsin

(Washington, D.C.) – Congressmen Glenn Grothman (R-WI) and Mike Gallagher (R-WI) announced legislation to protect the annual sturgeon spearing on the Winnebago system. The bill, called the Sturgeon Protected and Exempt from Absurd Regulations (SPEAR) Act, would proactively exempt the state of Wisconsin from any listing of lake sturgeon under the Endangered Species Act.  Currently, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is conducting a species status assessment of lake sturgeon and considering listing lake sturgeon under the Endangered Species Act. The potential listing would not only threaten the careful population management in place but would ignore the cultural importance and economic impact of lake sturgeon and sturgeon spearing to Northeast Wisconsin.

“As a Congressman, I have never witnessed a more impassioned rally than the one at Stockbridge High School last night. Statements from local experts on lake sturgeon indicate that not only have Wisconsin’s sportsmen groups brought populations much higher than they were 40 years ago, but they are greater than many other areas across the country as well. It is perplexing that some still label the sturgeon as endangered when the reality is that Wisconsin has a rapidly expanding population surpassing levels not seen in the past four decades. I invite Washington officials to join me in Wisconsin this April, where they can witness the exciting spectacle of the sturgeon spawning on the Wolf and Fox Rivers.      “Our sportsmen groups are a nationwide leader in lake sturgeon management, and these efforts should not be threatened by a federal government agency’s nationwide, one-size-fits-all listing. The SPEAR Act is a commonsense, bipartisan bill that will ensure both sturgeon spearing and Wisconsin’s conservation success story will continue for generations to come,” said Grothman.

 “Sturgeon spearing in Wisconsin is a long-cherished tradition and crucial to the livelihoods of our communities near Lake Winnebago. Wisconsin is the global leader in lake sturgeon management and these efforts should not be threatened by a federal government agency’s nationwide, one-size-fits-all listing. This common-sense bill will ensure both sturgeon spearing and Wisconsin’s conservation success story will continue for generations to come,” said Gallagher.

In December of 2023, Grothman and Gallagher signed a bipartisan letter to the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to express concerns about the massive implications a potential listing of lake sturgeon on the Endangered Species List would have on Wisconsin,, along with Senators Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), as well as Representatives Bryan Steil (R-WI), Tom Tiffany (R-WI), Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI), and Derrick Van Orden (R-WI). The letter highlighted the importance of lake sturgeon spearing to Wisconsin and the conservation success story that comes with Wisconsin’s management of sturgeon populations.  With a decision from the USFWS not expected until June, this legislation provides a tangible and preemptive solution as we approach Spearing Season.