Sturgeon Recovery

The future of the white sturgeon

The upper Columbia River population of white sturgeon – North America's oldest and largest freshwater fish – has been listed as endangered. Biologists are still doing research to understand why white sturgeon are in decline but we know that human activities – such as pollution, dam construction and fishing – are likely factors.

The Upper Columbia white sturgeon recovery initiative

The Upper Columbia White Sturgeon Recovery Initiative is a collaborative venture involving BC Hydro and other concerned groups, including government, aboriginal, industrial and environmental organizations, stewardship groups and citizens. These interests are working together to research and monitor the white sturgeon.

BC Hydro is committed to learning about how its operations affect white sturgeon, as well as reducing impacts where they occur.

Working to save the white sturgeon

It will take many years to restore a naturally sustaining sturgeon population.However, regulations have been established which make commercial and recreational fishing illegal.

The Initiative is working to develop a long-term recovery plan that will incorporate conservation, hatchery work, water management options – which will be evaluated under the B.C. Water Use Planning process – and habitat restoration techniques.

The Hill Creek Hatchery in Nakusp has been modified to accommodate breeding and rearing of juvenile sturgeon for research and release into the Columbia River. Healthy juvenile white sturgeon will be tracked to assess what factors can help them survive in the wild.

How can you help?

• Avoid polluting streams and lakes.
• Report any illegal white sturgeon fishing or captures to a Ministry of Environment.
• Support research efforts by reporting both recent and historical information about the white sturgeon. Any information you have about the white sturgeon, including photographs and memories, can help researchers better understand the fish.
• Encourage maintenance of long-term stakeholder involvement in the project.

Did you know?

The white sturgeon...

• gets its name from the white along its sides and belly.
• depending on age and size, can spawn between 100,000 and one million eggs.
• has no teeth. It has four barbels (whiskers) between its mouth and snout to detect food.
• feeds on all kinds of things, including fish, lamprey, crayfish, clams, insects and worms.
• has remained relatively unchanged for the past 175 million years.
• has a skeleton made of cartilage, not bone.
• does not have scales but is protected by a heavy armor-like skin with five rows of bony plates called scutes.