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3. DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A PALLID STURGEON CAPTIVE <br />PROPAGATION PROGRAM. <br />3.1. ® Develop policy on a pallid sturgeon propagation and stocking <br />program. <br />3.1.1. Develop a pallid sturgeon propagation plan. <br />A propagation plan must be developed to guide establishment and <br />maintenance of genetically sound pallid sturgeon broodstock. <br />This plan will detail numbers of broodstock, capture locations, <br />protocol for spawning, holding, and rearing, and also numbers <br />of young to be retained for broodstock. This plan will be <br />followed by all Federal and /or State agencies participating in <br />the propagation program. Information learned from stocking <br />programs for other sturgeon and Colorado River rare fish work <br />will be used in development of this plan. <br />3.1.2. Develop a pallid sturgeon stocking plan and a plan for <br />disposition of surplus fish. <br />A stocking plan must be developed to guide restoration of <br />pallid sturgeon populations in the wild through either <br />population augmentation or reintroduction. Sturgeon will be <br />stocked only where and when needed. Maintenance of genetic <br />fitness must not be compromised through stocking efforts. The <br />plan will recommend production goals to meet needs for both <br />future broodstocks and future stocking projects and locations <br />where stocking is needed to maintain or restore the genetic <br />makeup of wild populations. The plan will also include <br />recommendations on a release size, time, and rate that promotes <br />good poststocking survival. This plan also will include policy <br />on disposition of surplus fish and will be developed in <br />coordination with states. The success of reintroduced and <br />augmented populations will be monitored through implementation <br />of Task 2.4.1. <br />3.1.3. Develop a tagging protocol for stocked fish. <br />All pallid sturgeon progeny released to the wild will be marked <br />for future identification. A standard protocol is needed that <br />describes tagging methods and ensures collection of required <br />information. <br />37 <br />