Skwó:wech Sturgeon monitoring

The Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance is looking to expand First Nation’s scientific understanding of Lower Fraser Skwó:wech and the health of their population.

With this new 2-year project (2024–2026) we will not only learn more about this crucial species but also empower First Nations communities to lead data collection efforts.

Current data relies almost exclusively on the recreational catch-and-release fisheries. These fisheries target larger sturgeon, which means the data collection on juveniles is limited. We know the juvenile population of sturgeon is undergoing a decline, so it’s important to collect more data on them.

Calling all fishers interested in Skwó:wech conservation

LFFA is are looking for First Nation fishers to collect information on sturgeon encountered in their gill nets. Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tag readers will be distributed to fishers who sign up so that they can scan the sturgeon they encounter. We’ll ask you to record the location, length, and health condition of the sturgeon you scan.

If you’re interested in being a part of this project please contact Andrew Maybury.