Addressing the risk of sturgeon herpesviruses in wild populations of Lake Sturgeon in the South Saskatchewan River basin

21-CA-01

Description

Herpesviruses (AchHVs) are the most reported viruses found in sturgeon. This virus causes a severe skin disease for the fish and can cause up to 95% mortality in farmed sturgeon.

This study will explore:

1. a baseline level of herpesviruses in sturgeon from the South Saskatchewan River Lake
2. the distribution of the viruses within the South Saskatchewan River drainage basin
3. the genetic relationship of Lake Sturgeon herpesviruses to other known sturgeon herpesviruses

This information can be used by:

• federal and provincial governments and stakeholders to develop wild Lake Sturgeon recovery strategies
• provincial authorities that regulate the transfer of live fish to fish rearing facilities
• the sturgeon aquaculture industry

Program Name

Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP)

Year(s)

2021 to 2022

Principal Investigator(s)

Sharon Clouthier, Research Scientist, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute, Ontario and Prairie Region

Email: Sharon.Clouthier@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Team Member(s)

• Nick Savidov, Senior Research Scientist, Lethbridge College Aquaculture Center of Excellence
• Shane Petry, Senior Fisheries Biologist, Alberta Environment and Parks

Collaborator(s)

• Bret Walter, Owner, Granary Road FEC Ltd.