| Abstract/Description or Keywords |
The Nechako population of white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) has been ranked as a critically imperilled species in British Columbia (BC Conservation Data Centre 2006), as well as a species listed as endangered on Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA). Since 1994, data on white sturgeon within the upper Fraser and Nechako Rivers have been collected and entered into an Access database maintained by the Ministry of Environment (MoE). The database lists all records of sturgeon captures where physical data such as length, weight, sex, age and tagging information was collected, as well as telemetry data where individual fish movements have been recorded. Detailed information on hundreds of adult fish is included, many of which have been captured and tracked multiple times since 1994. This information is extremely valuable from a conservation standpoint since it provides a means of determining the timing of critical life history periods (ex. spawning), and identifying important rearing, spawning and overwintering habitats within the Nechako and Stuart Rivers. In addition, the comparison of data collected over the period of record provides a means of determining the rate of individual fish development and sexual maturity as well as examining how behaviour patterns change over time. This goal of the present study was to provide a summary of the life history information and movement data collected for each of the fish captured within the Nechako and Stuart Rivers. Interpretation of the movements of individual fish was included as well as any identified trends or potential critical habitats. This report summarizes the results of the database review and provides a discussion of how fish capture and telemetry locations change throughout the year. |
