In the last century, sturgeon were often discarded as nuisance fish because they became entangled in commercial fishing nets. Today, the sturgeon is among the most important commercial fishes of the world, prized for its meat, eggs (caviar), and oil. These fish are easily caught, but today are considered rare throughout the United States.

Though legally protected since 1921, the lake sturgeon has never really recovered from its past exploitation, due primarily to its long reproductive cycle. A female sturgeon can't reproduce until she's more than 20 years old. Even then she only spawns every four to six years, or just three or four times during her 40-year life span.