Biology and exploitation of lake sturgeon in the Québec water of the Saint-Laurent river

Jeux de données : (1) number of recaptures on the tagging sites for sturgeon recaptured more than once [these data relate to fish tagged on sites which are not spawning grounds], 1981-1984; (2) distribution of recaptures by commercial fishermen [lake Saint-Pierre and Sorel-Berthier Islands, lake Saint-Louis; Laprairie basin]; (3) annual numbers of fish tagged and tag returns by commercial fishermen for sturgeon 800-1350 mm long; (4) annual harvest, yield, fishing success, mean weight, annual mortality per sectors [field data 1982-1984].***Raw data not included in the report.

Data holder(s)

Additional information

This report summarizes the results of data collected between 1981 and 1984 on the biology and commercial exploitation of lake sturgeon in the Québec waters of the Saint-Laurent River, from lake Saint-François to lake Saint-Pierre.

Number of sites

3

Site description

The study area extends from the western part of lake des Deux Montagnes, on the des Outaouais river, and lake Saint-François to the eastern part of the lake Saint-Pierre, including lake Saint-Louis and Laprairie basin, on the Saint-Laurent river. This area forms a complex network of rivers, channels and islands. Brown waters representative of the Precambrian Shield are dominant along the northern shore and green waters representative of the Great Lakes, along the southern shore.

Habitat

The lakes in the study area are actually enlargements of the river in which the water current velocity is generally moderate. Except in the navigation channel, depth is usually less than 6 m. More than 90 fish species have been identified in the study area. Although it suffers high degree of industrial and organic pollution, the study area remains productive for aquatic life because of its high dilution factor and the periodic presence of large rapids.

Environment

Aquatic

Taxonomic information

Fish

Taxonomic details

Latin name	English name	French name
Acipenser fulvescens	lake sturgeon	esturgeon jaune

Study design

Voir la section "la saison et la méthode de collecte des données".

Study status

Complete

Sampling approaches

Direct visual observation (e.g. fieldwork)

Study goals

Individual level (e.g. behaviour, physiology, autecology), Single species

Frequency of sampling

Voir la section "la saison et la méthode de collecte des données".

First year of data collection

1981

Last year of data collection

1984