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Rebuilding the white sturgeon population in the upper Columbia River depends on a key recovery tool, conservation aquaculture. The Freshwater Fisheries Society of British Columbia Canada has taken the lead in developing and carrying out this component of the Initiative. - (David R. Gluns/UCWSRI photo)
Outside of the Kootenay Trout Hatchery, Kootenay Sturgeon Conservation Hatchery complex
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Prior to working on upper Columbia sturgeon, the society gained experience culturing this species through its involvement with the Kootenai River white sturgeon Recovery Plan. A partnership was established with the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho to culture this transboundary sturgeon stock in British Columbia. The Kootenay White Sturgeon Conservation Hatchery was constructed in 1998 at the Province's Kootenay Trout Hatchery complex near Cranbrook, BC. - (David R. Gluns/UCWSRI photo)
Young juvenile white sturgeon at hatchery
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The Society's involvement with upper Columbia white sturgeon started in 2000 with the design and construction of a pilot sturgeon culture facility at Hill Creek, near Nakusp, BC. Production of white sturgeon at this facility began in 2001. Following a couple experimental years at Hill Creek, the upper Columbia program was transferred to the Kootenay Trout Hatchery complex near Cranbrook where it operates in conjunction with the Kootenay River Sturgeon Conservation Hatchery. - (David R. Gluns/UCWSRI photo)
Rearing facilities inside hatchery
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The Kootenay and upper Columbia rivers’ white sturgeon facilities operate side by side, bringing many advantages to both programs. The upper Columbia Sturgeon Conservation Hatchery provides adult holding, spawning, incubation and rearing facilities. All breeding plans and release strategies for white sturgeon are coordinated through the Recovery Team leading each Initiative. - (David R. Gluns/UCWSRI photo)
Two techs fish tagging white sturgeon juveniles
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During 2001, the Society coordinated with the UCWSRI to raise white sturgeon, which resulted in a release of 9,000 tagged juveniles during spring and summer 2002. For the 2002 brood, 12,000 juveniles were released during spring 2003. This spring 2006, marks the Initiative’s fifth year to release juvenile white sturgeon, and the second year from both sides of the Canada-U.S. border. White sturgeon are generally until spring, when they are tagged and released at about one year of age. - (David R. Gluns/UCWSRI photo)
Senior Fish Culturist, Ron Ek helping young kids release 1-yr. old sturgeon
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The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC staff continues to expand their expertise in conservation culture for white sturgeon. They maintain a close working relationship with the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho hatchery staff, sturgeon experts at University of California at Davis, and other institutions. - (David R. Gluns/UCWSRI photo)
Laird Siemens, Hatchery Manager, Kootenay Trout Hatchery
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