Nechako-White SturgeonFair Outlook or Sunset for an ancient fish?Nechako-White SturgeonFair Outlook or Sunset for an ancient fish?
Cory WilliamsonFisheries BiologistChair- Nechako Technical Working Group
Cory WilliamsonFisheries BiologistChair- Nechako Technical Working Group
www.nechakowhitesturgeon.org
Nechako White sturgeon- OverviewBiology
Conservation Status
Recovery Approach
Stewardship Efforts
Ancient Lineage:200 MYBP (end of Triassic)
White sturgeon 9 million years
Modern humans 0.5 million years
Recruitment failure (<200 years)
27 sturgeon species world wide- 85% are critically imperilled
Overfishing and dams causing recruitment failure
IUCN has said sturgeon are the most imperiled group of animals on the planet
Fossil sturgeon;150 MYBP, China
Occupy Nechako R, Stuart R, and other large lakes
Spawns @ Vanderhoof annually- one site
Eat salmon
Ongoing recruitment failure
Juveniles #’s insignificant
Genetically distinctSmith et al. 2002; mitochondrial DNA; unique haplotypes only in Nechako group
Schreier, 2012 (In Prep); 14 microSat- low genetic diversity-
Upper Fraser DU, distinct from Mid Fraser and cryptic substructure 2 or 3 sub pops that rarely interbreed
Nechako PopulationNechako Population
HabitatsHabitats
Lake headed
Northern extent of range
Canada
U.S.A.
Canada
U.S.A.NechakoSG-5
Upper Fraser SG-4
Middle Fraser SG-3
Status: SARA- Schedule 1: Endangered
~80-90 year Nechako Female – April 2011
Recruitment Failure Since late 1960’s
Age Distribution – Comparison through time
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Fre
qu
en
cy
(%
)
0-5 10-15
21-25
31-35
40-45
51-55
61-65
71-75
81-85
91-95
Age Category
1980-1982
1995-1999
Older fish more abundant in 1995-99 catch.Young fish dominant in 1980-82 catch.
“We have a cunning plan!”
Recovery Planfor
NechakoWhite Sturgeon
March 2004
?XXSpawning EggLarvae
Hiding(1-15 days)
LarvaeFeeding
15-20 (40) days
Sub-Adults1-m to maturity
Conservation HatcheryGoal: Preserve Genetic Breadth Mature Adult
Population
(Stop-Gap)
White Sturgeon Life Stages
Habitat Research/ Recruitment Restoration
(Goal: Restore Natural Recruitment)
Eliminate Unnatural Adult/ Sub-adult Mortality
Goal: Retain Genetic Breadth
JuvenilesLess than 1-m
Recruitment
Priority Areas for Activity
High
Critical
Recovery ActionsMedium
X Severe bottleneckfor recruitment
Recovery Goal: A naturally self-sustaining population
Refinement of our understanding of recruitment failure:
Biology- larval survival, growth and behavior- preference for low velocities and clean gravels
Habitat- Geomorphology define habitat requirements.
Recruitment Restoration: Research: 2007-2009
Experimental Recruitment Restoration
Goals: Large River Field Experiment to detect post-hiding, 15 day old larvae
Increase understanding of sediment dynamics
2011- Recruitment Restoration Multi-phase project
1) Funding - Planning – Permitting2010-2011
2) Gravel PlacementFall- Spring 2011
3) Bio-Physical Monitoring 2011-2012 Wild spawn monitoring- Bio-telemetry
Egg Placement (hatchery spawn) (2011)
Egg mats and pads
D-ring Netting for larvae
Substrate monitoring
2100 m3 gravel-cobble added at two spawning sites
300,000 Eggs Placed
100% Fertilization
Zero re-captured
Nechako Conservation Centre: OutputsTarget founder population: Nm=2500
Up to 12 Maternal families annually
Spring Releases: 12,000; 120-300 g juveniles at age-1
All fish tagged and marked and tracked to maternal family.
Eggs & larvae for research.
Nechako Conservation Centre: Status
Design phaseRAS Design 95% Complete
Detailed architecture,
Construction documents by Dec 2012
Begin construction? (2013?)8 months to 1 year
Need to start work in April for completion by next spawning season
Facility in Operation? (2014?)
Harm ReductionEliminate un-natural mortality
NWSRI- CWG developed boat kits for FN fishers to release sturgeon
Sturgeon release video complete for 2012 season
Assemblies to discuss harm reduction ongoing
Uncertain Future:Recovery is technically feasible; it’s a matter of modest resourcing
Federal: focussed on planning
Provincial: focussed on resource revenue projects
Industry: will partner if government contributes
NEEF; $800k/ year available for sturgeon recovery: but requires 50% matching
Nechako Sturgeon in the News: Hope in the public realm?
Stephen Hume, Vancouver Sun October 12, 2012
“Nechako sturgeon forgotten in battle over northern gateway
Province appears to have abandoned fight to save the endangered fish”
Dene Moore, Canadian Press Sept. 26, 2012:
“Environmentalists sue to force Ottawa to protect species along Northern Gateway route”“One of the most powerful foes of the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline through northern British Columbia is not a lawyer or a conservation group or any of the many First Nations who have lined up against the project. It’s a very large, very, very old fish.”
AcknowledgementsAcknowledgementsCarrier Sekani Tribal Council
District of Vanderhoof
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC
BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
BC Ministry of Environment
Rio Tinto Alcan
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
BC Wildlife Federation
City of Prince George
Environmental Dynamics Inc.
Environment Canada
Nature BC
Fraser Basin Council
Fraser Basin Council
Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society
Golder Associates Ltd.
Lheidli T'enneh Band
Nechako River Alliance
Nechako Watershed Council
Resources North Association
Saikuz First Nation
School District 57
Sport Fishers
Spruce City Wildlife Association
Tl'azt'en Fisheries Program
Triton Environmental Consultants
Questions?