COVID-19 Updates: Taking steps to return to normal.
- Public health restrictions: Alberta entered Step 2 on March 1.
- Book your vaccine: Albertans 5+ can get it now. Get third dose when eligible.
COVID-19 Updates: Taking steps to return to normal.
The Fish Sustainability Index (FSI) uses both scientific and local knowledge to assess the health of lake sturgeon in Alberta.
The Fish Sustainability Index (FSI) combines scientific and local knowledge to assess the health of Lake Sturgeon in Alberta.
Stocked lake populations are denoted with a circle. Please note that data reliability is not currently displayed in these figures.
Please note that data reliability is not currently displayed in these figures.
The complete FSI spatial data layers can be viewed and downloaded in:
Please note that the Lake Sturgeon FSI assessment will be displayed in FWMIT at a watershed-scale, but Lake Sturgeon are primarily a mainstem river species.
Lake Sturgeon in Alberta are ranked as Threatened under the provincial Wildlife Act, and as Endangered by the national Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC 2006). The 2013 Alberta Fish Sustainability Index (FSI) assessment confirmed these conservation designations. In summary, Lake Sturgeon are increasing from the critically low population levels of the past century, but are still in low numbers with few older adults. Healthy rivers and careful angling practices will continue to be necessary to maintain their recovery.
To maintain and enhance their recovery, Lake Sturgeon will require healthy rivers with natural flows and good water quality. Managing the potential effects of overfishing will continue to rely on Alberta anglers for monitoring data and their cautious use of catch-and-release fishing practices.
Historically, Lake Sturgeon were believed to be abundant in the South Saskatchewan River, Oldman River downstream of Fort Macleod, Bow River downstream of Bassano, Red Deer River downstream of Innisfail, and North Saskatchewan River downstream of Drayton Valley. In these river reaches, large fish (>1 m in length) may have been common.
Currently, numbers of large, adult Lake Sturgeon are very low in the North Saskatchewan River, but younger fish are more common and increasing.
The population in the South Saskatchewan River system is in somewhat better condition (particularly in the mainstem South Saskatchewan River), but numbers and distribution of both adults and young sturgeon are well below desired levels and sustainability remains at risk.
The main threats to recovery of Lake Sturgeon were noted as:
Was this page helpful?
You will not receive a reply. Do not enter any personal information such as telephone numbers, addresses, or emails.
Your submissions are monitored by our web team and are used to help improve the experience on Alberta.ca. If you require a response, please go to our Contact page.