1. Lake Sturgeon Rehabilitation in Lake Superior
Present to you the status of lake sturgeon rehabilitation in Lake Superior.
The information I will provide is a result of the efforts of all members of the LAS Subcommittee
Henry R. Quinlan
Ashland Fishery Resources Office
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Ashland, Wisconsin

2. Lake Sturgeon Subcommittee
Michigan Technological University
Dr. Nancy Auer (Chair)
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Henry Quinlan
John Weisser
Jeff Slade
Wisconsin DNR
Steve Schram
Jeff Roth
Steve Fajfer
Michigan DNR
Dr. Ed Baker
Minnesota DNR
John Lindrgen
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community
Mike Donofrio
Bay Mills Indian Community
Ken Gebhardt
Fond du Lac Band
Brian Borkholder
Bad River Band
Rick Huber
Red Cliff Band
Greg Fischer
GLIFWC
Mike Plucinski
Bill Mattes
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
Mike Friday
Ed Iwacheski
These agencies currently conduct dedicated lake sturgeon surveys in the Lake Superior basin.
Many of the survey efforts being conducted are cooperative efforts among these agencies.
In addition, other agencies gather lake sturgeon data on an irregular basis or incidental to other fishery assessments.

3. Introduction 1980’s Lake Sturgeon Surveys
1990 Fish Community Objectives
Re-establish depleted stocks
1994 Sturgeon Subcommittee
Status report
Rehabilitation plan – 2002
Current lake sturgeon rehabilitation activities can be traced to the 1980’s when several fishery management agencies initiated assessment and stocking projects for lake sturgeon.
The growing interest in native fish was expressed by all fishery management agencies with completion of FCO’s for Lake Superior in The objective for lake sturgeon was to, re-establish depleted stocks.
To address the lake sturgeon objective, the LSC through the LSTC formed the Lake Sturgeon Subcommittee to determine the status of stocks and develop a rehabilitation plan.

4. Status Report Spawning Tributaries Reasons for Decline
Summarized Population Characteristics
The status report identified tributaries with documented historical spawning populations
Described reasons for decline of lake sturgeon in Lake Superior
Described current population characteristics and life history

5. Historic Spawning Tributaries
Nipigon
Black Sturgeon
Gravel
Big Pic
Wolf
White
Kaministiquia
Michipicoton
Pigeon
Batchawana
Harmony
St. Louis
Documented evidence or current spawning in 19 L. Superior tributaries shown here.
Sturgeon
Goulais
White
Ontonagon
Tahquamenon
Bad
Montreal

6. Historic Abundance
Historic abundance data is almost non-existent, the only information available is from Baldwin et al’s review of commercial catch records. This chart shows the dramatic decline and limited commercial fishery that persisted through late 70’s. While this is data about historic abundance we don’t know when peak harvest occurred, nor how much harvest occurred prior to this time.
All we can see is the dramatic decline in sturgeon. We do know that the total kg harvested from was about 600,000 kg. Empirical data indicates that an average adult sturgeon in L. Superior weighs about 16 kg. Therefore we can roughly estimate that 37,500 sturgeon were harvested over a 20 year period or one sturgeon generation.
Total commercial catch of lake sturgeon from Lake Superior waters. Baldwin et al 1979

7. Reasons for Decline Targeted Commercial Fishery Habitat Loss
Sawmill waste
Log drives
Hydroelectric dams
Poor water quality
Harbors/shipping
Incidental Catch
Sturgeon in Lake Superior likely began to decline in the 1800’s, as a result of habitat loss, water quality degradation, and incidental catch by commercial fishing. The decline continued after the commercial fishery collapsed as a result of hydroelectric dams and industrial pollution.

8. Population Characteristics
Bad River, WI
Annual spawning run of adults
Sturgeon River, MI
Annual spawning run of adults
Kaministiquia River, ONT
175 fish in a 15 km stretch
3 populations studied most thoroughly. Population size has been estimated for 3 streams. The annual spawning run in the Bad and Sturgeon rivers is estimated at about fish. The Kam R. was surveyed in fall throughout a 15 km stretch of river which was estimated to hold 175 lake sturgeon.

9. Current Reproduction Larval Sturgeon or Fingerlings Collected
Larval drift net
Visual observation / dip net
Backpack electrofisher
Bottom Trawl
Seine
Larval and/or young-of-the-year sturgeon have been collected from 10 L. Superior tributaries. Methods of collection include larval drift net, visual observation / dip net, backpack electrofisher, bottom trawl, and seine.

10. Current Reproduction Nipigon Black Sturgeon Gravel Big Pic
Kaministiquia
Michipicoton
Batchawana
There are 8 tributaries in Ontario and 3 in US. These tributaries all possess some habitat suitable for natural reproduction and adult fish are present.
Sturgeon
Goulais
White
Bad

11. Rehabilitation Stocking
St. Louis
Rehabilitation stocking efforts are in progress for 2 extirpated migratory populations, the lower St. Louis R. and Ontonagon R., and an extirpated river resident population in the upper St. Louis R.
Ontonagon

12. Self-sustaining Spawning Populations
Lower St. Louis R. – 1983
Fry and fingerling
Upper St. Louis R
Eggs
Ontonagon R
Fingerling
While the objective of these efforts is the same, the approaches used have varied.
Fry and fingerlings are stocked in the St. Louis River,
Eggs in astroturf bundles are stocked in the upper St. Louis River
Fingerlings in Ontonagon River
Each of these efforts will likely continue until natural reproduction is verified

13. Stocking Success Abundance increase in St. Louis R.
Stocking has been successful increasing the number of sturgeon in all 3 systems.
Chart shows increase in abundance as measured by MNDNR index gill net surveys in the St. Louis River.
Relative abundance has increased from 0 to 5-6 fish/net night.
Assessment by WIDNR(summer variable mesh gill net surveys) in western L. S. shows relative abundance has increased from 0 to 2-3 sturgeon/ km of net.
Oldest fish in system 19 years and approaching age of maturity.
Have observed large fish at base of dam
Remains to be seen if stocked fish will spawn and produce offspring
Juveniles being caught hook and line in upper SLR and Ontonagon R
Stocking and assessment to continue in all 3 locations
Abundance increase in St. Louis R.
0 to 5-6/gill net night in river
First year classes stocked will soon mature

14. Telemetry and Tag Returns
Telemetry studies and tag return data show that most fish remain near spawning or stocking locations.
However, some fish wander substantial distances throughout the lake
The lack of information in the north and east part of the lake is a reflection of the sampling effort in those areas.

15. Status Summary Natural Reproduction
Estimated Abundance in few Tributaries
Stocking Increased Abundance
Movements Wide Ranging
What we know slide
We know that natural reproduction is taking place indicating that some suitable habitat exists
We have estimated abundance on 3 tributaries
Stocking has increased abundance in all 3 areas stocked
Movement is wide ranging
Brings us to where we want to get

16. Rehabilitation Goal Fish Community Objective
To maintain, enhance, and rehabilitate self-sustaining populations in 17 tributaries where the species historically spawned
Where do we want to be?
Revised FCO for lake sturgeon states….

17. Rehabilitation Plan Defines Rehabilitated Self-sustaining Population
Identifies Issues and Strategies
Management and Research Needs
Rehabilitation plan will serve as a guide to get us to that FCO
Defined characteristics of a self-sustaining spawning population
Identified issues and strategies to be addressed to reach goal of self-sustaining populations
Identified management and research information needs

18. Self-sustaining Population
Minimum of 1,500 Spawning Adults
Only a portion spawn in any given year
Evidence of Annual Natural Reproduction
Roughly Equal Sex Ratio
20+ Year Classes of Adults
4 Criteria developed to define a self-sustaining population, they are
A population with a minimum of 1,500 spawning adults
Evidence of annual natural reproduction
Roughly equal sex ratio
20 or more year classes of adults present
How is a self-sustaining spawning population defined? Real challenge the Subcommittee due to lack of historic information and lack of abundance and biological data on robust self-sustaining stocks. The min. number of spawners was based on data collected in the Sturgeon River, MI which indicates that about 1,200 spawners are currently present and the observation that all available spawning habitat was not utilized.
While 1,500 may be reasonable for rivers that have similar flow or amount of available spawning habitat to the Sturgeon R.
1,500 may not be appropriate for rivers like the St. Louis, Nipigon.
If 17 streams support minimum of 1,500 indiv. spawners total is ~25,000
Avg weight is 35 lbs. That’s about 3/4 million pounds (or 350,000 kg).
That is in slightly more than 1/2 the 600,000 kg harvest of all age sturgeon reported by Baldwin from
Scant information exists in literature on sex ratios in the spawning run. Ratios of males to females range from a low of 1:1 to as high as 9.5:1.
20 YC of adults – adult sturgeon 15
Evidence of natural reproduction

19. Key Issues and Strategies
Harvest Management / Regulations
Determine exploitation rates
Spawning and Nursery Habitat
Id and quantify critical habitat
Stocking and Genetics
Reproductively isolated populations
Genetically-based stocking
A few key issues of the Rehab Plan I’d like to mention
Critical to protect existing habitat, determine how much and what type of habitat is present, and restore degraded or inaccessible habitat
Importance of gathering data understand various components of mortality to maintain exploitation rates near 5%
Develop genetically based stocking plans using eggs from L. Superior populations
Continue to work with sea lamprey management agents to benefit sturgeon and maintain sea lamprey control
Educate and engage the public in native fish restoration

20. Key Issues and Strategies
Sea Lamprey Management
Control strategies
Community Interactions
Competition and predation
Outreach and Public Education
Increase awareness and support
A few key issues of the Rehab Plan I’d like to mention
Critical to protect existing habitat, determine how much and what type of habitat is present, and restore degraded or inaccessible habitat
Importance of gathering data understand various components of mortality to maintain exploitation rates near 5%
Develop genetically based stocking plans using eggs from L. Superior populations
Continue to work with sea lamprey management agents to benefit sturgeon and maintain sea lamprey control
Educate and engage the public in native fish restoration

21. Track Rehabilitation Progress
Presence of Adults at Spawning Sites
Increase in Adult Density or Numbers
Presence of Drifting Larval Sturgeon
Presence of Juveniles
Agencies will measure progress toward the Rehab goal by assessment of one or more of the following,….
Presence of adults at historical spawning sites
Increase in density or number of adults in spawning tribs.
Presence of drifting larval sturgeon
Presence of juveniles in nearshore habitats

22. Rehabilitation Status
No Populations Meet Self-sustaining Criteria
3 Populations Meet Some Criteria
20+ adult year classes
Annual reproduction
Sex ratios 2-3:1
What progress has been made to date?
At present none of the L. Superior sturgeon populations meet criteria set for self-sustaining populations
2 of 10 rivers with reproducing populations meet some of the criteria
Bad and Sturgeon rivers
Evidence of annual reproduction
20+ year classes of adults
Sex ratios 2:1

23. Rehabilitation Status
Run of River flow agreements
Nipigon River, Ont.
Sturgeon and Ontonagon rivers, MI
Genetic Studies in Progress
Regulations Changes Made or Proposed
2 Egg Sources and 2 Hatcheries in Basin
Re-licensing agreements with hydropower companies on the Nipigon R., Ont., and the Sturgeon and Ontonagon rivers, MI ensure run-of-river conditions during spring spawning period
Several locale scale genetic studies have been completed, one of which indicate that populations are reproductively isolated from one another. This year a Great Lakes wide genetics study will be initiated
2 tributaries have potential to serve as egg sources for rehabilitation stocking
2 tribal hatcheries in the L. Superior basin have developed capabilities to rear sturgeon

24. Rehabilitation Status
New Partnerships Formed
Sturgeon subcommittee
Commercial fishers
Binational Program - LaMP
Outreach
Lake sturgeon brochure
Aquarium and Visitors Center
Great Lakes lake sturgeon website
New partnerships have been formed
One in particular involves assistance from commercial fishers with assessment of lake sturgeon, and
Outreach materials have been developed and distributed including lake sturgeon brochure and web site

25. Research Needs Determine Current Abundance and Status
Describe and Quantify Habitat for All Life Stages
Contaminant Levels and Affects
Determine Stocking Densities

26. “Clash of the Sturgeon”
Canada vs USA
“Clash of the Sturgeon”
HE SHOOTS, HE SCORES!
8:30 pm