The SPEAR Act of 2025 amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to ensure that lake sturgeon populations in Wisconsin cannot be listed as threatened or endangered.
Tony Wied
Representative
WI-8
The SPEAR Act of 2025 amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to ensure that lake sturgeon populations in Wisconsin cannot be listed as threatened or endangered. This bill prohibits the Secretary from making any determination that would grant protected status to Wisconsin's lake sturgeon populations under the Endangered Species Act.
SPEAR Act: Wisconsin Lake Sturgeon Kicked Off Endangered Species List
The "Sturgeon Protected and Exempt from Absurd Regulations Act of 2025" (SPEAR Act) does one big thing: it blocks the federal government from listing any lake sturgeon population in Wisconsin as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). That's the whole bill, right there in Section 2.
Hook, Line, and Sinker?
So, what does this mean in the real world? Well, if you're a fish, specifically a lake sturgeon in Wisconsin, it means your protection status just got a lot weaker. The ESA is the big one when it comes to protecting vulnerable species. By excluding Wisconsin's sturgeon, this bill essentially says, "You're on your own, fish." This might be good news for the fishing industry in Wisconsin, potentially opening up more opportunities to catch these guys. But it's potentially bad news for the sturgeon, which have faced population declines in the past. It's a classic case of balancing economic interests against environmental protection, and this bill comes down firmly on the side of the economy.
The Ripple Effect
Consider a local Wisconsin fishing guide, whose business relies on healthy sturgeon populations. While they might see a short-term boost if fishing restrictions loosen, the long-term health of the sturgeon – and their business – could be at risk without federal protection. Or, a local restaurant that serves sturgeon. More fish available now might mean lower prices, but that depends on the sturgeon population staying healthy enough to be fished in the future. The bill doesn't specify dates or numbers, because it's a blanket exclusion. It's simply removing the possibility of ESA protection, full stop (SEC. 2).
The Big Picture
This bill is a pretty straightforward example of how environmental regulations can be targeted for specific industries or regions. The SPEAR Act focuses solely on Wisconsin lake sturgeon, preventing federal oversight. The concern is the precedent this might set. If one species in one state can be excluded from the ESA, what's to stop other exclusions down the line? It's a potential chipping away at a major piece of environmental law, all focused on a single fish in a single state.