Aquaculture America 2020

February 9 - 12, 2020

Honolulu, Hawaii

CONSERVATION AQUACULTURE OF WHITE STURGEON Acipenser transmontanus IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN, USA AND CANADA: A 30-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE

Paul Anders*, Susan Ireland,  Joel Van Eenennaam , Blaine Parker, James Crossman, K en Lepla , Andrea Schreier,  Shawn Young, Donella Miller, and Lance Keller
 
Cramer Fish Sciences
 Moscow, ID 83843
anders@fishsciences.net
 

C onservation aquaculture programs  for white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus)  in American and Canadian waters of the Columbia River Basi n  (Basin)  have evolved considerably since their inception during the late 1980s.  Early programs  focused on assessing the feasibility of aquaculture to protect and restore imperiled or endangered populations.  As the reliability of  sturgeon culture techniques improved, p rograms diversifie d to address  more  specific demographic  and genetic  goals, increase year class representation and population viability, and support the reestablishment of multiple use fisheries. Despite  multiple challenges and successes of these programs over the past 30 years, no inclusive review or synthesis of program design, operations, and outcomes has been produced.

To address this information gap, we summarized key aspects of 10  white sturgeon  conservation  aquaculture programs  in American and Canadian waters of the Basin  to  facilitate communication and coordination and  to guide ongoing and future programs.  We report information  gathered  from  a survey questionnaire regarding: 1) program history, 2) goals and  objectives, 3) monitoring and e valuation programs, 4) s ignificant findings, 5) unexpected results, 6) lessons learned , and 7) future needs and concerns. The survey was sent to over 30 e ntities directly involved in white sturgeon  hatchery programs  including state, federal, and provincial fisheries agencies, Native American tribes and tribal commissions, federal, private, public and provincial hydropower companies and utility districts,  and private sector and academic entities. As of 2019, the 10 reported programs have been operating from 6 to 30 years, with 8 of 10  the programs operating continuously since their inception .  Significant accomplishments include the prevention of extinction, increased abundance and year class representation, incorporation  of  native  genetic diversity  into recipient populations,  development and refinement of aquaculture, monitoring, and evaluation techniques for various white sturgeon life stages, successful implementation of  repatriation programs and  streamside rearing techniques,  and the reestablishment of fishery opportunities.