Proceedings 2008/018

Recovery Potential Assessment for Lake Sturgeon Great Lakes - Upper St. Lawrence River Populations; November 5-7, 2007

Chairperson: T.C. Pratt, and L.M. O’Connor

Summary

Over 30 lake sturgeon researchers, biologists and key stakeholders from around the Great Lakes basin met on November 5-7 in Sault Ste Marie to conduct a recovery potential assessment for lake sturgeon populations in the basin. Lake sturgeon populations in the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River were assessed as Threatened by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada in November 2006. Initial steps required under the legislation to inform the listing decision include conducting a Recovery Potential Assessment (RPA), a subsequent socio-economic analysis and listing consultations with affected stakeholders. A RPA framework was developed by DFO Science to provide the information and scientific advice required to meet the various requirements of the Species-at-Risk Act.

Three research documents, one on lake sturgeon habitat requirements, a second detailing stage-based recovery modeling scenarios, and the third addressing the steps outlined in the RPA framework, were presented to participants prior to the workshop and peer-reviewed at the workshop. There is considerable uncertainty surrounding the number, abundance and trajectory of most lake sturgeon populations in the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River basin, though there are a few well-studied populations. Lake sturgeon life history traits and habitat requirements mean that the species will require management actions to limit the effects of anthropogenic stresses. There was only limited consensus reached around recovery targets, with many participants thinking that the proposed target was too high. To address this, the target was applied to a Sturgeon Management Unit, which was usually comprised of a number of populations that were either genetically distinct or geographically isolated from other Sturgeon Management Units.

Modeling suggested that, that, under the currently estimated suite of mortality rates and life history parameters, lake sturgeon in the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River will require between 170 to 300 yrs to reach the recovery target. However, if the key threats, exploitation and the presence of dams, to lake sturgeon recovery are addressed, the time to 95% probability of recovery improve from 20 yrs to just over 100 yrs.

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