Research For Survival: Reports
In order to produce reliable estimates of the population of Fraser River White Sturgeon, novel life history and migration information for the species, and heightened awareness levels in the public regarding the state of this culturally and ecologically significant species, the Society designed a cost-effective monitoring and assessment program.
The following program documents are available for download and are in PDF format. Please download the free acrobat reader from www.adobe.com
The success of our award-winning monitoring and assessment program is its support from volunteers and in-kind contributions from true stewards of the resource: sport fishing guides, recreational, commercial, and aboriginal fishermen, test fishery and enforcement personnel, and various fishery monitors. The program has gathered sponsorship and support from provincial, federal, and aboriginal governments, plus non-government institutions, associations, and foundations.To date, program volunteers tagged and released over 80,000 White Sturgeon during within a study area that spans over 200 linear kilometers of river from the Fraser Canyon to the Fraser estuary and collected over 185,000 samples. The program has resulted in one of the best baseline datasets on sturgeon in the world, creating an internationally recognized population model, to date. Our estimates indicate a population abundance of approximately 44,903 White Sturgeon.
We are making progress; however, in order to fully understand the life, habitat and best opportunities to preserve this majestic species, we need your help to expand our program throughout the many critical areas of the Fraser River.
The FRSCS recognizes the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation and anglers, hunters, trappers and guides who contribute to the Trust, for making a significant financial contribution to support our conservation programs. Without such support, these programs would not be possible.
Take a moment to read through the following reports and learn more about our work. Click on the "PDF" to open our documents.
Lower Fraser River White Sturgeon Monitoring and Assessment Program
Challenger, W., T.C. Nelson, D. Robichaud, K.K. English, T. Mochizuki, and T. Thibault. 2021. Status of White Sturgeon in the Lower Fraser River in 2020. Report for Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society, Vancouver, BC, and BC Ministry of Forest, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, Victoria, BC. PDF 1 page brief 2 page brief
Challenger, W., K.K. English, D. Robichaud, and T.C. Nelson. 2020. Status of White Sturgeon in the Lower Fraser River in 2019 derived using an Integrated Spatial and Age Mark Recapture (ISAMR) model. Report for Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society, Vancouver, BC, and BC Ministry of Forest, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, Victoria, BC. PDF
Nelson, T.C., D. Robichaud, W. Challenger, K.K. English, T. Mochizuki, T. Thibault, J. Rissling, and W.J. Gazey. 2020. Lower Fraser River White Sturgeon Monitoring and Assessment Program: status of White Sturgeon in the Lower Fraser River in 2019 with abundance estimates derived from 24-Month Bayesian mark recapture modelling. Report for Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society, Vancouver, BC. PDF
Challenger, W., K.K. English, D. Robichaud, and T.C. Nelson. 2019. Status of White Sturgeon in the Lower Fraser River in 2018 derived using an Integrated Spatial and Age Mark Recapture (ISAMR) model. Report for Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society, Vancouver, BC, and BC Ministry of Forest, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, Victoria, BC. PDF
Nelson, T.C., D. Robichaud, W. Challenger, K.K. English, T. Mochizuki, T. Thibault, J. Rissling, and W.J. Gazey. 2019. Lower Fraser River White Sturgeon Monitoring and Assessment Program: status of White Sturgeon in the Lower Fraser River in 2018 with abundance estimates derived from 24-Month Bayesian mark recapture modelling. Report for Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society, Vancouver, BC. PDF
Nelson, T.C. D. Robichaud, W. Challenger, T. Carruthers, T. Mochizuki, J.Rissling, K.K. English, and W.J. Gazey. 2018. Status of White Sturgeon in the Lower Fraser River in 2017 with abundance estimates derived from 24-month Bayesian analyses and integrated spatial and age mark recapture (ISAMR) modelling. Report prepared by LGL Limited, Sidney, BC. PDF
Challenger, W., K.K. English, and T. Carruthers. 2017. Integrated spactial and age mark recapture (ISAMR) model (v2.0) for lower Fraser River White Sturgeon. Report for Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, Victoria BC, by LGL Limited, Sidney, BC. PDF
Nelson, T. C., D. Robichaud, T. Mochizuki, J. Rissling, K. K. English, and W. J. Gazey. 2017. Status of White Sturgeon in the Lower Fraser River: Report on the Findings of the Lower Fraser River White Sturgeon Monitoring and Assessment Program 2016. Manuscript report prepared by LGL Limited, Sidney, BC. PDF
Nelson, T. C., D. Robichaud, and K. K. English. 2017. Brief report on the findings of the Lower Fraser River White Sturgeon Monitoring and Assessment Program 2016. Prepared by LGL Limited, Sidney, BC. PDF
Nelson, T. C., D. Robichaud, T. Mochizuki, J. Rissling, K. K. English, and W. J. Gazey. 2016. Status of White Sturgeon in the Lower Fraser River: Report on the Findings of the Lower Fraser River White Sturgeon Monitoring and Assessment Program 2015. Manuscript report prepared by LGL Limited, Sidney, BC. PDF
Nelson, T. C., D. Robichaud, and K. K. English. 2016. Brief report on the findings of the Lower Fraser River White Sturgeon Monitoring and Assessment Program 2015. Prepared by LGL Limited, Sidney, BC. PDF
Nelson, T. C., D. Robichaud, T. Mochizuki, J. Rissling, K. K. English, and W. J. Gazey. 2015. Status of White Sturgeon in the lower Fraser River: Report on the findings of the Lower Fraser River White Sturgeon Monitoring and Assessment Program 2014. Summary report prepared by LGL Limited, Sidney, BC. PDF
Nelson, T. C., W. J. Gazey, D. Robichaud, K. K. English, and T. Mochizuki. 2014. Status of White Sturgeon in the lower Fraser River: Report on the findings of the Lower Fraser River White Sturgeon Monitoring and Assessment Program 2013. Summary report prepared by LGL Limited, Sidney, BC. PDF
Nelson, T. C., W. J. Gazey, D. Robichaud, K. K. English, and T. Mochizuki. 2013. Status of White Sturgeon in the lower Fraser River: Report on the findings of the Lower Fraser River White Sturgeon Monitoring and Assessment Program 2012. Summary report prepared by LGL Limited, Sidney, BC. PDF
Nelson, T. C., W. J. Gazey, and K. K. English. 2012. Status of white sturgeon in the lower Fraser River: Report on the findings of the Lower Fraser River White Sturgeon Monitoring and Assessment Program 2011. Summary report prepared by LGL Limited, Sidney, BC. PDF
Nelson, T. C., W. J. Gazey, and K. K. English. 2011. Status of white sturgeon in the lower Fraser River: Report on the findings of the Lower Fraser River White Sturgeon Monitoring and Assessment Program 2010. Summary report prepared by the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society, Vancouver, BC. PDF
Nelson, T. C., W. J. Gazey, and K. K. English. 2010. Status of white sturgeon in the lower Fraser River: Report on the findings of the Lower Fraser River White Sturgeon Monitoring and Assessment Program 2009.Summary report prepared by the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society, Vancouver, BC. PDF
Nelson, T. C., W. J. Gazey, and K. K. English. 2009. Status of white sturgeon in the lower Fraser River: Report on the findings of the Lower Fraser River White Sturgeon Monitoring and Assessment Program 2008. Summary report prepared by the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society, Vancouver, BC. PDF
Nelson, T. C., W. J. Gazey, and K. K. English. 2008. Status of white sturgeon in the lower Fraser River: Report on the findings of the Lower Fraser River White Sturgeon Monitoring and Assessment Program 2007. Report prepared by the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society, Vancouver, BC. PDF
Nelson, T. C., W. J. Gazey, and K. K. English. 2007. Status of white sturgeon in the lower Fraser River: Report on the findings of the Lower Fraser River White Sturgeon Monitoring and Assessment Program 2006. Report prepared by the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society, Vancouver, BC. PDF
Nelson, T. C., W. J. Gazey, M. L. Rosenau, and K. K. English. 2004. Status of Fraser River White Sturgeon in the lower Fraser River: Report on the findings of the Lower Fraser River White Sturgeon Monitoring and Assessment Program 1999-2004. Report prepared by the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society, Vancouver, BC. PDF
Nelson, T. C. and K. K. English. 1999. Design of a stewardship project to supplement information required to assess the status of white sturgeon in the lower Fraser River. Report prepared by LGL Limited, Sidney BC, for the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society, Vancouver, BC, and the BC Ministry of Fisheries. PDF
Robichaud, D., K. K. English, R. C. Bocking, and T. C. Nelson. 2006. Direct and delayed mortality of white sturgeon caught in three gear-types in the lower Fraser River. Report prepared for Tsawwassen First Nation Fisheries, Delta, BC, by LGL Limited, Sidney, BC. PDF
Region 3 Fraser River White Sturgeon Monitoring and Assessment Program
Nelson, T. C., D. Robichaud, T. Mochizuki, and T. Thibault. 2021. Fraser River Region 3 White Sturgeon Population Monitoring, 2020: Including a Summary of Trans-Regional Movements of White Sturgeon in the Fraser River Watershed Based on PIT Tag Recoveries from 1995-2020. Report prepared for Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society, by LGL Limited, Sidney, BC. PDF
Side-Scan Sonar Surveys of Potential White Sturgeon Spawning Areas in the Lower Fraser River
S.Johnson, I.Beveridge, K.K. English. 2017. Side-scan sonar surveys of potential White Sturgeon Spawning areas in the lower Fraser River, 2016. Report prepared by LGL Limited, Sidney BC, for the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society. PDF
S.Johnson, I.Beveridge, K.K. English. 2016. Side-scan sonar surveyrs of potential White Sturgeon Spawning areas in the lower Fraser River, 2015. Report prepared by LGL Limited, Sidney BC, for the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society. PDF
S.Johnson, I.Beveridge, K.K. English. 2014. Side-scan sonar surveys of potential White Sturgeon Spawning areas in the lower Fraser River, 2013. Report prepared by LGL Limited, Sidney BC, for the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society. PDF
FRSCS White Sturgeon Habitat Reports
Glova, G., T. C. Nelson, K. K. English, and T. Mochizuki. 2010. Investigations of juvenile white sturgeon abundance and habitat preferences in the lower gravel reach of the lower Fraser River, 2009-10. Report prepared by LGL Limited, Sidney, BC, for the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society, Vancouver, BC. PDF
Glova, G., T. C. Nelson, and R. Roberts. 2009. An interim report on the stewardship approach toward the development of a white sturgeon habitat conservation and protection strategy in the lower Fraser River, 2008-09. Report prepared by LGL Limited, Sidney, BC, for the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society, Vancouver, BC. PDF
Glova, G., T. Nelson, K. English, and T. Mochizuki. 2009. A further report on juvenile white sturgeon habitat use in the lower Fraser River, 2008-2009. Report prepared by LGL Limited, Sidney, BC, for the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society, Vancouver, BC. PDF
Glova, G., T. Nelson, K. English, and T. Mochizuki. 2008. A preliminary report on juvenile white sturgeon habitat use in the lower Fraser River, 2007-2008. Report prepared by LGL Limited, Sidney, BC, for the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society, Vancouver, BC. PDF
Lower Fraser River White Sturgeon Acoustic Telemetry Projects
Jackson, S., M. Mercer, and S. Steele. 2018. Distribution and migration of acoustic-transmitter tagged White Sturgeon with special regards to overwintering habitat in the lower Fraser River 2017-18. Report for BC Ministry of Forests Landas, and Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development by the BCIT Fish, Wildlife and Recreation Program. PDF
Ghilarducci, S. and M. Reeve. 2012. Distribution and migration of sonic-tagged sturgeon with regards to overwintering habitat in the lower Fraser River, 2011-2012. Report prepared for Department of Fish, Wildlife and Recreation Management, British Columbia Institute of Technology. PDF
Robichaud, D. 2012. Sturgeon acoustic telemetry update. A project status report for the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society by LGL Limited, Sidney, BC. PDF
Neufeld, P., K. Teubert, and J. Mothus. 2010. Distribution and migration of sonic-tagged sturgeon with regards to overwintering habitat in the lower Fraser River, 2009-10. Report prepared for Department of Fish, Wildlife and Recreation Management, British Columbia Institute of Technology. PDF
Fraser River White Sturgeon Conservation Plan
English, K., Challenger, W., Robichaud, D., and Korman, J., 2021. Recovery Potential Assessment (RPA) for Lower Fraser River White Sturgeon. Prepared for Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS), Pacific Region, by LGL Limited Sidney, BC., Ecometric Research, Vancouver, BC,. PDF
Fraser River White Sturgeon Working Group. 2005. Fraser River white sturgeon conservation plan. Report prepared for the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society, Vancouver, BC, by Solander Ecological Research, Victoria, BC. PDF
Hatfield, T. and G. Long. 2004. Impacts to abundance and distribution of Fraser River white sturgeon. Results of expert elicitation survey and technical workshop. Report prepared for the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society and the Fraser River White Sturgeon Working Group. PDF
Hatfield, T., S. McAdam, and T. C. Nelson. 2004. Impacts to abundance and distribution of Fraser River white sturgeon. A summary of existing information and presentation of impact hypotheses: Report prepared for the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society and the Fraser River White Sturgeon Working Group. PDF
Long, G. 2004. Forum on the future of Fraser River white sturgeon. Meeting 29 January 2004, Skway Hall, Chilliwack, BC. Meeting report. PDF
Other Reports, Articles and Background Documents
NOTE: Documents included in this section are independent from the FRSCS and for information. The inclusion of these materials does not constitute FRSCS promotion or endorsement of the documents, contents and/or research findings.
McLean, M.F., Litvak, M.K., Cooke, S.J., Hanson, K.C., Patterson, D.A., Hinch, S.G., Crossin, G.T., 2019 Immediate physiological and behavioural response from catch-and-release of wild White Sturgeon (Acipenser Transmontaus Richardson, 1836). Fish. Res. 214, 65-75. PDF
McLean, M.F., Litvak, M.K., Stoddard. E.M., Cooke, S.J., Patterson, D.A., Hinch, S.G., Welch, D.W. and G.T. Crossin. 2019. Linking environmental factors with reflex action mortality predictors, physiological stress, and post-release movement behaviour to evaluate the response of White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus, Richardson, 1836) to catch-and-release angling. Comp Biochem Phsiol A Mol Integr Physiol. 2020 Feb; 240:110618. PDF
Robichaud, D., K.K. English, and T.C. Nelson. 2017. Annual movements of acoustic-tagged White Sturgeon in the lower reaches of the Fraser River and its tributaries. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 146:611-625. DOI: 10.1080/002847. 2017.1204542. (Citation only)
McLean MF, Hanson KC, Cooke SJ, Hinch SG, Patterson DA, Nettles TL, Litvak MK, Crossin GT. 2016. Physiological stress response, reflex impairment and delayed mortality of white sturgeon Acipenser Transmontanus exposed to simulated fisheries stressors. Conserv Physiol 4(1):cow031;doi:10.1093/conphys/cow031. PDF
Nelson, T.C., W.J. Gazey, K.K. English, and M.L. Rosenau. 2013. Status of White Sturgeon in the Lower Fraser River, British Columbia.
Fisheries 38: 197-209 (Citation only)
Nelson TC, Doukakis P, Lindley ST, Schreier AD, Hightower JE, Hildebrand LR, Whitlock RE, and Webb MAH (2013). Research Tools to Investigate Movements, Migrations, and Life History of Sturgeons (Acipenseridae), with an Emphasis on Marine-Oriented Populations. PLoS ONE 8(8): e71552. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0071552 PDF
