Lower Fraser River White Sturgeon Plan

Read scientific papers, timelines and area specific reports regarding the recovery of Lower Fraser River White Sturgeon through the B.C. Fraser River White Sturgeon Plan which commenced in 2021.

On this page:

• Significant dates in the White Sturgeon timeline
• White Sturgeon scientific studies

Significant dates in the White Sturgeon timeline

• 2021: Start of the current B.C. Fraser River Basin White Sturgeon Plan
• 2020: DFO Lower Fraser Recovery Potential Assessment (RPA) 
• 2018: Implementation of voluntary closure areas for sport fishing during spawn period. Recreational angling licence sales peaked at over 18,000 
• 2014: DFO Recovery strategy for all White Sturgeon populations 
• 2012: COSEWIC grouped Middle and Upper Fraser areas and assessed the Lower Fraser as threatened, SARA listing decisions yet to come 
• 2008: Conservation surcharge added to recreational catch-and-release fishery in non-tidal waters. Proceeds go to Habitat Conservation Trust Fund for sturgeon projects on the Lower and Middle Fraser River 
• 2006: DFO Species at Risk Act (SARA) with no legal listing for Lower and Middle. Technical and Community Working Groups established (developed priority habitat maps, activity prioritization and tracking schedule)  
• 2000: Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society (FRSCS) initiated stewardship role 
• 1995-1999: RL&L systematic sampling derives White Sturgeon population estimate for entire Fraser River 
• 1994: Harvest fishery closed-and-catch and release fishery started. First Nation voluntary moratorium on harvest fishery
• 1993 and 1994: Unexplained deaths of numerous large adult sturgeon, mostly mature females 
• ​1897: Commercial harvest peaked at 500,000 kg followed by a rapid decline after 1915 

White Sturgeon scientific studies

• Recovery Potential Assessment for Lower Fraser White Sturgeon, 2021 (PDF, 3.4MB)
• White Sturgeon Provincial Action Framework, working draft 2019 (PDF, 485KB)
• Lower/Middle Fraser White Sturgeon Provincial Conservation and Management 5 Year Strategic Action Plan Objectives, 2016 (PDF, 165KB)
• DFO Recovery Strategy for White Sturgeon in Canada, 2014 (PDF, 50MB)
• Fraser River White Sturgeon Conservation Plan, 2005 (PDF, 1.9MB)
• Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance Lower Fraser Sturgeon Project Summary 2017 (PDF, 230KB)
• Fraser River White Sturgeon Monitoring Program - Comprehensive Report (1995 to 1999) (PDF, 2.0MB)
• DFO Science: An Assessment of White Sturgeon Stock Status and Trends in the Lower Fraser River, 2005 (PDF, 380KB)
• Direct and delayed mortality of white sturgeon caught in three gear-types in the lower Fraser River, 2006 (PDF, 1.2MB)
• Lower Fraser River White Sturgeon Monitoring and Assessment Program, 2020 (PDF, 1.9MB)