Cory Williamson
Fisheries Biologist
Chair- Nechako Technical Working Group www.nechakowhitesturgeon.org

Biology
Nechako White sturgeon- Overview
Conservation Status
Recovery Approach
Stewardship Efforts

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 distinct
Smith et al. 2002; mitochondrial DNA; unique haplotypes only in Nechako group
Schreier, 2012 (In Prep); 14 microSatlow genetic diversity-
Upper Fraser DU, distinct from Mid Fraser and cryptic substructure 2 or 3 sub pops that rarely interbreed

Lake headed
Northern extent of range

Middle Fraser SG-3
Upper Fraser SG-4

Status: SARA - Schedule 1:
Endangered
~80-90 year Nechako Female – April 2011
Recruitment Failure Since late 1960’s

Comparison through time
Young fish dominant in 1980-82 catch.
Older fish more abundant in 1995-99 catch.
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
0-5
10-
15
21-
25
31-
35
40-
45
51-
55
61-
65
71-
75
Age Category
1980-1982
1995-1999
81-
85
91-
95

Recovery Plan for
Nechako
White Sturgeon
March 2004

Recovery Goal: A naturally self-sustaining population
Priority Areas for Activity
Medium
High
Critical
X
Recovery Actions
Severe bottleneck for recruitment
(Stop-Gap)
Conservation Hatchery
Goal: Preserve Genetic Breadth
Eliminate Unnatural Adult/
Sub-adult Mortality
Goal: Retain Genetic Breadth
Spawning
White Sturgeon Life Stages
Egg X
Larvae
Hiding
(1-15 days)
X
Larvae
Feeding
15-20 (40) days
Habitat Research/
Recruitment Restoration
(Goal: Restore Natural Recruitment)
?
Juveniles
Less than 1-m
Mature Adult
Population
Recruitment
Sub-Adults
1-m to maturity

Recruitment Restoration:
Research: 2007-2009
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.

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 – Permitting
2010-2011
2) Gravel Placement
Fall- 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

3

100% Fertilization
Zero re-captured

Nechako Conservation Centre: Outputs
Target founder population: N m
=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 phase
RAS 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?)

Eliminate 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

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

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.”

Carrier Sekani Tribal Council Fraser Basin Council
District of Vanderhoof
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation
Society
Golder Associates Ltd.
Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC
BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural
Resource Operations
Lheidli T'enneh Band
Nechako River Alliance
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
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