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Biology and Management of the Lake Sturgeon in the Moose River, Ontario
Author(s) -
Threader R. W.,
Broussaeu C. S.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
north american journal of fisheries management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1548-8675
pISSN - 0275-5947
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8659(1986)6<383:bamotl>2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - spawn (biology) , fishery , overexploitation , acipenser , fishing , sturgeon , bay , lake sturgeon , population , fisheries management , geography , biology , environmental science , fish <actinopterygii> , demography , archaeology , sociology
The age and growth of lake sturgeons (Acipenser fulvescens) were investigated in the lower Moose River system in the Hudson Bay lowland. The effects of current fishing methods also were reviewed in order to recommend procedures for a sustained‐yield fishery. The population estimate of lake sturgeon in the study area was 7,088 with 95% confidence limits of 5,774‐8,919. Sex ratios of all fish sampled throughout the summer were 1:1 and the length‐weight relationship showed allometric growth with no significant differences between sexes. The age of first spawn for females was approximately 20 years but that for males was suspect due to small sample sizes of ripe males. Tissue mercury analyses showed relatively high levels of mercury in lake sturgeons longer than 102 cm. Growth was calculated from the Brody‐Bertalanffy relationship that was employed in the Beverton‐Holt yield model. This model indicated that increases in fishing intensity under present fisheries regulations would result in overexploitation. An alternative commercial fishery management plan for sustained yield is proposed.