Program Development

1996–1998:
Workers in Saskatchewan caught and tagged mature sturgeon during the spawning season. Some were held to watch for eggs or spawning activity, but with little success.
1999–2000:
New techniques allowed successful collection and fertilization of eggs from sturgeon captured at Bigstone Rapids. The eggs were flown to the Grand Rapids Hatchery for hatching and rearing.
2001:
Genetic testing showed sturgeon were genetically similar from The Forks in Saskatchewan to Grand Rapids in Manitoba, but differed from populations in other rivers around Lake Winnipeg.
2002–2007:
Eggs were gathered annually from sturgeon captured at Nipawin and were taken to the hatchery at Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan.