Pallid Sturgeon and the Role of the Proposed Program

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SD Home I GFP Home I Division of Wildlife Home I Division Parks & Recreation Home Site Index I Hunting Fishing GFP News ( TIPs I FAQs Email I Help I Search Pallid Sturgeon Reintroduction in Missouri Approximately 7,000 pallid sturgeon fingerlings, reared at Blind Pony Hatchery in 1992 and stocked into the Missouri and Mississippi rivers in 1994, are apparently thriving and beginning to make their presence known. An additional 3,000 pallid sturgeon were reared at Blind Pony Hatchery and stocked into the same rivers in 1997, but are still too small be be captured with any regularity. Also, during 1997, 300 pallid sturgeon fingelings were stocked into the Platte River in Nebraska near the confluence with the Missouri River. All sturgeons were tagged with coded wire under the second or third dorsal scute and with numbered, double T bar tags in the left pectoral fin. There is evidence that many of the sturgeons stocked in 1994 are loosing T -bar tags because several have been reported without T -bar tags but with scars in the pectoral tissue indicating tags were once there. Most of these fish have coded wire under their dorsal scutes indicating external tag life may be only about 5-6 years. All pallid sturgeon stocked as 2- year -old fingerlings in 1994 were about 11 -12 inches long. Reports from biologists and commercial fishermen capturing these fish indicate they are in extremely good shape and average about 15 -20 inches in length. Since stocking in fall 1994, 86 tagged pallid sturgeon and 13 with only scars, but coded wire, have been reported. Eight individual fish have been captured twice. Most of the tagged pallid sturgeons are being reported in the Mississippi River below St. Louis. This is to be expected because most of the fish were stocked in that portion of the river and most of the active commercial sturgeon fishermen fish the Mississippi River. Fourteen pallids stocked in the Missouri River were reported captured in the Mississippi River below St. Louis, and only nine pallids stocked in the Missouri River were captured there. There are fewer commercial fishermen on the Missouri River and reports are expected to be fewer in number. Most of the tagged fish reported are with 100 miles of their release site (movement is generally downstream), although a couple individuals have moved nearly 300 miles. Because the 3,300 pallid sturgeon tagged and stocking in the Missouri and Mississippi rivers in 1997 are considerably smaller (about 11 -12 inches total length), only five have been reported captured. This is not surprising because most of the earlier stockings were not captured in great numbers until they reached about 15 inches in length. Apparently, smaller pallid sturgeon do not move great distances and are less succeptible to pole and line and other capture gears. None of the 300 pallids stocked in Nebraska in 1997 have been reported captured. Apparently, survival of tagged and stocked pallid sturgeon in Missouri has been excellent Although it is apparent that external tags are being lost, and fewer will be reported by commercial fishermen, we expect their home range to expand because of their larger size, permitting them to better swim in strong currents. Kim Graham, Missouri Department of Conservation, Fisheries Research Section, 1110 S. College Ave., Columbia, MO 65201, (573)882 -9880, Ext. 3227, grahal@mail.conservation.state.mo.us U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Rock Island, Illinois (Home Page)( Personnel Directoiy)(Area Of Jurisdiction)(Map To The Office (Selected Web Links) (Endangered Species (Environmental Contaminants)( Federal Activities )(I MRCC) PALLID STURGEON RECOVERY