RESCUE EFFORTS TO SAVE STURGEONS IN AMERICA

The sturgeons - the primary source of commercial caviar, have experienced severe population declines worldwide because of overexploitation, habitat alteration and excessive take for international trade. Some sturgeon species are at serious risk of extinction. The rescue effort to save a declining species of sturgeon in the United States of America (USA) is aimed at using a hatchery to prevent extinction while effective habitat measures are identified and implemented. Recovery is contingent upon re-establishing natural recruitment, minimizing additional loss of genetic variability and successfully mitigating biological and habitat alterations that have harmed the population. A conservation aquaculture program was developed by the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho (KTOI) and has been operating since 1991 to prevent extinction while efforts are made to re-establish suitable habitat conditions to increase natural production. A recovery program 2005-2010 will be presented.