Great Lakes Aquarium Expands Sturgeon Rearing Facility
The Duluth aquarium is scaling up its conservation program to boost Lake Sturgeon numbers in the St. Louis River.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Aquariums
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The Great Lakes Aquarium in Duluth is expanding its conservation efforts by building a new 1,300-square-foot facility to help restore Lake Sturgeon in the St. Louis River. The aquarium currently rears 250 of these fish, with plans to scale production significantly in the coming year.
Why it matters
Restoring Lake Sturgeon is critical because the species is designated as a special concern by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Expanding this rearing capacity helps ensure the long-term sustainability of the population in the St. Louis River.
The aquarium is currently rearing 250 Lake Sturgeon in a trailer, with plans to increase this to 3,000 fish next year. This initiative supports a long-term restoration goal of 3,500 fish for the St. Louis River, where restocking efforts have been underway since 1983.
The players
Great Lakes Aquarium
A Duluth-based institution that focuses on freshwater conservation and education through public exhibits.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
A state agency responsible for managing Minnesota's natural resources and protecting species of special concern.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
A federal agency dedicated to the management and conservation of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats.
Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
A tribal nation that partners on local environmental restoration and conservation initiatives.
The details
The conservation process involves raising Lake Sturgeon from egg and larval stages in a trailer situated directly on the St. Louis River. Once the new 1,300-square-foot facility is complete, the aquarium will move its operation indoors to scale up production. The aquarium plans to stock some of the raised fish into the river one year after they are featured on public display.
Timeline
1983: Restocking efforts began for the St. Louis River.
Next year: The aquarium aims to rear 3,000 Lake Sturgeon.
The Home Front
The aquarium's expansion marks a significant scaling of the 1983 St. Louis River Lake Sturgeon restocking program. This infrastructure project reflects a broader trend of regional collaboration to rehabilitate native species populations through dedicated facility investments.
Residents interested in local ecology can monitor the progress of the new facility as the aquarium prepares to house a significantly larger population of fish. Families should look for future opportunities to view these conservation efforts in person once the fish are placed on public display.
The takeaway
The Great Lakes Aquarium is significantly increasing its capacity to help restore native Lake Sturgeon populations. Residents can track the progress of the aquarium's conservation initiatives to see when the new facility opens for public viewing.
Further reading
Learn more about local aquatic life and conservation efforts at Aquariums.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fox21Online.
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