Water Stewardship Information Sources

Citation Nelson, TC, Gazey, WJ, English, KK and Rosenau, ML. 2004. Status of White Sturgeon in the lower Fraser River: Report on the findings of the lower Fraser River white sturgeon monitoring and assessment program 1999-2004. Prepared for Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society.
Organization Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society
URL http://www.frasersturgeon.com/media/2_StatusofWhiteSturgeonintheLowerFraserRiver1999-2004.pdf
Abstract/Description or Keywords The province of British Columbia has a responsibility and a long-standing interest in the
conservation, protection, management, and assessment of Fraser River white sturgeon
(Acipenser transmontanus). The Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society (FRSCS),
a not-for-profit charitable organization founded in 1997, has a mandate to conserve and
restore Fraser River white sturgeon stocks, raise public awareness regarding Fraser
sturgeon and their ecosystem, and gather reliable information on sturgeon in an effort to
develop and promote effective conservation programs. Both the province of British
Columbia and the FRSCS recognize that there is a distinct need to provide reliable
estimates of the population size and structure of white sturgeon in the lower Fraser
River downstream of Mission, and to increase the confidence in the estimates of white
sturgeon abundance in the section of river from Mission to Hope to assist in their
conservation mandates. This report presents an update of project activities and
population assessments for the Lower Fraser River White Sturgeon Monitoring and
Assessment Program from its beginning in October 1999 through mid-February 2004.
The study applied the coordinated efforts and in-kind contributions from true stewards of
the resource: angling guides, recreational, commercial, and aboriginal fishermen, test
fishery and enforcement personnel, and various fishery monitors. These volunteers
were trained to sample, tag, and record and transfer data. Project volunteers tagged
and released over 5000 sturgeon within the study area by March 2001. In April 2001,
the project incorporated a Lower Fraser River First Nations White Sturgeon Stewardship
project as a strategic and parallel component of the core monitoring and assessment
project. By February 2004, the combined projects had tagged and released over
16,000 sturgeon, sampled over 21,000 sturgeon for the presence of a tag, and
documented over 3000 recapture events. In-kind contributions of time and equipment
(boats, vehicles, sampling equipment) from FRSCS volunteers exceeded $450,000 per
year. Project volunteers and sponsors are represented by virtually all private and public
sectors, interests, and governments.
A descriptive population model was developed to provide reliable estimates of the
population of white sturgeon in the lower Fraser River, by size/age group and location,
based on tag release and recapture. The population component of the model considers
tag distribution and seasonal mixing, and is sensitive to estimates of mortality,
emigration, and observer error. The model also describes patterns of inter- and intraannual
movements, and specific feeding and overwintering behaviors, by size/age
group.
As of mid-February 2004, the population estimate for white sturgeon (from 40-220 cm
fork length) in the lower Fraser River was 62,611. This mean population estimate was
greater than the 4-year (2000-2003) mean estimate of 57,262, and significantly greater
than the mean population estimate before January 2002 (50,654). Comparative
population estimates of the numbers of sturgeon before and after January 2002 strongly
suggest increases in the numbers of sturgeon, for all size categories (20 cm size
groups). This indicates a rebuilding/increasing population, which is an important management consideration in respect to a review of measures applied for the purposes
of conservation, protection, and stock rebuilding.
Currently, the Conservation Data Center (MWLAP) lists Fraser River white sturgeon as
a "threatened" stock (the stock is "red" listed, classification S-2). From the onset of this
program in April 2000, through November 2003, the Committee on the Status of
Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) listed white sturgeon as a “species of
special concern.” However, since the passage of SARA (Species at Risk Act), the
committee designated white sturgeon as “endangered” (see 28 November 2003
COSEWIC press release: http://www.cosewic.gc.ca/eng/sct7/sct732e.cfm). The
development of specific agency actions for white sturgeon arising from this legislation
and the subsequent regulations are currently being undertaken.
Information Type report
Regional Watershed Lower Fraser
Sub-watershed if known Fraser River
Aquifer #
Comments
Project status complete
Contact Name
Contact Email