Research Document - 2008/043
Population Status and Threats of Lake Sturgeon in Designatable Unit 8 (Great Lakes / St. Lawrence River Watersheds)
By T.C. Pratt
Abstract
A recovery potential analysis, addressing the aspects outlined in Fisheries and Ocean Canada’s framework, was undertaken for lake sturgeon in the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River watershed. Lake sturgeon remain widespread throughout the basin, but serious declines in the number and size of populations have occurred. Lake sturgeon require spatially extensive habitat, and their life history traits, including large size, delayed maturation and slow growth, make them susceptible to over-exploitation and in turn are disadvantageous in the face of human-induced mortality and habitat change. Two main anthropogenic activities, the presence of dams and exploitation, were the most important lake sturgeon threats in basin. Dams result in habitat fragmentation, flow manipulation, and limit access to spawning habitat, which can result in habitat loss, the loss of genetic diversity and direct mortality on egg and age-0 life stages. Exploitation, including First Nation harvest, poaching, and commercial harvest, remove the sub-adult and adult life stages that are most crucial for lake sturgeon recovery. While adult habitat is not believed to be limiting, there is much uncertainty around whether spawning habitat is limiting in some of the Sturgeon Management Units.
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