Population Enhancement Introduction

• Stocking fingerlings is known to “bring back” populations that have almost disappeared.
• For over a decade the SRSMB has worked to develop a sturgeon stocking program to increase the population downstream of E.B. Campbell Dam on the Saskatchewan River.
• Each year eggs are harvested from sturgeon captured further upstream near Nipawin where spawners are more abundant and the population is genetically the same.
• The eggs are hatched and raised to fingerling size sturgeon at the hatchery at Fort Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan.
• Fingerlings are usually stocked below E.B. Campbell Dam or Bigstone Rapids where they are needed most.
• Increasing the number of young sturgeon below E.B. Campbell should enhance the population and speed population recovery.