Abstract
The Rogue River, Oregon represents one of three important spawning systems for green sturgeon, Acipenser medirostris, in North America. In this paper we describe the spawning migration, spawning periodicity, and size at maturity for green sturgeon caught in the Rogue River during 2000–2004. Green sturgeon were caught by gill net or angling; 103 individuals were tagged with radio or sonic transmitters (externally or internally). Green sturgeon caught by gill net and angling ranged from 145 cm to 225 cm total length. Histological and visual examinations of gonad tissues indicated that most green sturgeon were spawning or post-spawning adults that entered the Rogue River to spawn. Ripe individuals were caught when water temperature was 10–18°C. Specimens carrying transmitters migrated 17–105 km up river; reaches consisting of likely spawning sites were identified based on sturgeon migratory behavior. Most green sturgeon remained in the Rogue River until late fall or early winter when flows increased, after which they returned to the ocean. Eight green sturgeon (males and females) returned to the Rogue River 2–4 years after leaving, entering the river during March, April, and May when water temperatures ranged from 9°C to 16°C. None of the 103-tagged individuals entered the Rogue River during successive years. There appear to be few known natural threats to adult green sturgeon in the Rogue River. However, our data suggest that a high percentage of adults that spawn in the Rogue River (particularly males) were susceptible to harvest by commercial, Tribal, and sport fisheries after leaving the system because they were not adequately protected by maximum size limits during the period of this study. The implications of maximum size limits (or lack of size limits) to green sturgeon are discussed, and recent actions taken by Oregon and Washington Fish and Wildlife Commissions to manage green sturgeon more conservatively are presented.
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Acknowledgements
This research was funded by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Wildlife Conservation Society, and NOAA Fisheries, Southwest Fisheries Science Center. We thank Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for catching specimens and for providing logistical support. John Weber, Todd Confer, Russ Stauff, and Tom Rien (ODFW) provided endless support. We also thank the staff at the ODFW Gold Beach office that provided assistance to this project. Steve Lindley and Mary Moser (NOAA Fisheries) initiated a long-term study that provided funds and leverage to keep this Rogue River project moving forward. Staff from the Bureau of Land Management provided free raft trips down the most treacherous part of the Rogue River to locate tagged sturgeon. Joe Hightower (USGS) helped initiate this work and provided training for surgical and tracking methods. Kim Asher, Emily Bryant, Kate Hanson, and Adrienne Keller spent hours tracking sturgeon under difficult conditions. Many residents from Agness and Gold Beach helped with this study, including Dennis Graves who provided many boat trips up river. Finally, thanks to all of those who volunteered their time for this project (including Blaire Krohn, Bill, Donna, Nick, Drew, and Michele Erickson; Jerry Dilley, and Don Parks).
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Erickson, D.L., Webb, M.A.H. Spawning Periodicity, Spawning Migration, and Size at Maturity of Green Sturgeon, Acipenser medirostris, in the Rogue River, Oregon. Environ Biol Fish 79, 255–268 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-006-9072-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-006-9072-x