Frederick Binkowski, Part 2
People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish
People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin’s Love Affair with an Ancient Fish a tale of the cultural and scientific history of an iconic Wisconsin fish, the lake sturgeon. Throughout the process of writing the book, the authors interviewed community activists, sturgeon spearing enthusiasts, spear and decoy craftsmen, and scientific researchers associated with the Lake Winnebago sturgeon population. Because of the cultural, social, economic, and scientific knowledge captured in these interviews, the UW-Madison Wisconsin Water Library preserved the audio files as a collection of oral histories. This collection, People of the Sturgeon, encapsulates perspectives on lake sturgeon as they are reflected in the book.
The People of the Sturgeon collection includes interviews with outdoorsmen, scientists, and craftsmen associated with the Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin, lake sturgeon population.
Collection compiled by the UW-Madison Wisconsin Water Library. Audio courtesy of the Oshkosh Public Museum. Recordings were collected as part of the research for People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish published by Wisconsin Historical Society Press, Madison, WI.
National Capital Contracting
Frederick Binkowski, a senior research scientist at the Water Institute, has dedicated a significant portion of his career to the study and conservation of sturgeon species. Binkowski studies sturgeon biology, including the intricacies of their feeding habits, breeding, and rearing in laboratory conditions. His work has not only advanced the scientific community's understanding of sturgeon but also contributed to practical conservation efforts, such as the rehabilitation project on the upper Fox River initiated in 2002. Binkowski's efforts have been instrumental in the development of methodologies for sturgeon care in captivity, including the optimization of conditions for egg incubation, hatching, and the early development stages of sturgeon. His collaboration with other researchers, notably Serge Doroshov, has been pivotal in expanding the scope of sturgeon research to include aspects of temperature effects on development and the exploration of spawning induction substances. Beyond his scientific endeavors, Binkowski has played a crucial role in organizing symposiums and workshops that have brought together experts in the field to share knowledge and strategies for sturgeon conservation.
Scope and Content Note
Kathleen Schmitt Kline interviews Frederick P. Binkowski about his involvement in sturgeon population research in Wisconsin as a researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Binkowski provides a comprehensive overview of his extensive work with sturgeon, highlighting his contributions to research, conservation, and the broader scientific community's understanding of these ancient fish. Binkowski traces his early career, focusing on his transition from studying alewife to pioneering sturgeon research in the laboratory setting. He delves into the challenges of sturgeon aquaculture, including dietary studies, breeding, and the innovative use of technology such as radio and sonic telemetry for tracking sturgeon in their natural habitats. The interview also covers Binkowski's involvement in organizing significant academic and social events, such as the sturgeon symposium in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, which facilitated discussions on sturgeon management, research, and conservation efforts. Furthermore, he touches on legislative issues related to sturgeon farming in Wisconsin and the collaborative projects with entities like Sea Grant programs and Sea Farm of Norway, aimed at enhancing sturgeon populations through net pen raising and detailed habitat studies. Binkowski reflects on the evolution of sturgeon research methodologies, from the early days of working with sac-fry to the implementation of advanced tagging and tracking techniques. The interview covers three decades of dedicated research and the collective efforts of the scientific community to understand and preserve sturgeon species for future generations.
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