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The Sturgeon Chronicle

Education & Experience Outreach Program

To foster a deeper connection between local communities and youth, FRSCS participates in outreach events, information sessions and community discussions to emphasize the importance of sturgeon conservation, and recognize that the future of sturgeon lies in the hands of today’s youth. FRSCS has developed an immersive, student program that brings the classroom to the Fraser River, giving youth the opportunity to encounter these remarkable fish in their natural habitat. Aligned with curriculum-based learning, the program offers a powerful lens into conservation, ecosystems, and environmental stewardship through an inclusive and fully accessible experience on the Fraser River.

Experience Program

Designed to increase outreach and awareness, the Experience Program introduces people to White Sturgeon and inspires people to help make a difference. Each Experience Day includes active participation in our data collection efforts for the Lower Fraser River White Sturgeon Monitoring and Assessment Program, along with opportunities to learn more about the Fraser River and White Sturgeon from our FRSCS Accredited Guide Team.

Ghost Gear Removal Initiative

Lost or abandoned ghost gear remains in the river, continuing to intercept and kill sturgeon and other non-targeted species after a fishery is closed. We save countless sturgeon and other nontargeted species, including fish, other wildlife, and birds by removing the ghost gear from the Lower Fraser River.

Juvenile Sturgeon Population and Habitat Assessment Program

Our data is showing a troubling low levels of juvenile sturgeon numbers. Immediate support is needed to prioritize research on these young fish to identify the key factors affecting their survival and determine the necessary actions to reverse this trend. The survival of juvenile sturgeon is at risk, and we must act now to protect their future.

Lower Fraser River White Sturgeon Monitoring and Assessment Program

Volunteer-driven, this world-class research and conservation program is the only one of its kind, dedicated to collecting data within a core assessment area that covers over 200 linear river kilometers of the lower Fraser River and its tributaries downstream of Hells Gate. The data collection efforts are unmatched, providing us independent, unbiased, peer-reviewed reporting on this incredible species and comprehensive insights such as the declining trends in abundance and growth rates as an area of ongoing concern.

Tagging Program

An operational initiative to ensure scanners, tags and slings are provided to the volunteers who collect sturgeon data, supplying the tools, technology, and field resources they need to safely and effectively contribute to our Lower Fraser River White Sturgeon Monitoring and Assessment Program.

DP World Commits $350,000 to Safeguard White Sturgeon in the Lower Fraser River

Vancouver, BC – The Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society (FRSCS) and global logistics leader DP World are pleased to announce a $350,000.00 commitment over the next four years towards the conservation of juvenile White Sturgeon. This initiative underscores DP World’s dedication to environmental sustainability and marks a significant stride in preserving aquatic biodiversity in the Fraser River.

The initiative, known as the Lower Fraser River Juvenile Sturgeon Population and Habitat Use Initiative, aims to enhance understanding of the juvenile sturgeon’s population dynamics and use of habitat in the vicinity of DP World’s Fraser Surrey operations. Data collected will contribute to FRSCS’ longstanding monitoring and assessment tagging program, to help to understand sturgeon habitat in the lower Fraser River.

This collaboration not only reflects DP World’s commitment to its “Our World, Our Future” sustainability strategy, but also bolsters FRSCS’s ongoing research to reverse the declining trends in sturgeon abundance. Through this partnership, DP World and FRSCS are dedicated to ensuring the survival and thriving of this vital apex species, contributing to the health and vibrancy of the Fraser River ecosystem.

“We are grateful for this contribution from DP World. This initiative will result in greater understanding of juvenile White Sturgeon population abundance levels as well as document its habitat use adjacent to in-river work areas, to support impact mitigation measures,” said Robert Reyerse, FRSCS Chair.

“This funding contribution marks a crucial step forward in conservation and will help accelerate the pace towards total recovery of the species.”

The FRSCS has more than 20 years of experience, marked by the successful delivery of research, population assessment initiatives, and unbiased reporting of the status of the abundance of Fraser River White Sturgeon. There is considerable concern for the survival of juvenile sturgeon, as research evidence gathered to date illustrates the declining trends in abundance levels.

“We’re thrilled to collaborate with FRSCS over the next four years on this sustainability initiative,” said Doug Smith, CEO of DP World Canada. “At DP World, we are deeply committed to our ‘Our World, Our Future’ strategy, which emphasizes our dedication to environmental stewardship. This collaboration allows us to contribute significantly to the preservation and understanding of the juvenile White Sturgeon’s habitat, ensuring the health and vibrancy of the Fraser River ecosystem for future generations. It’s a significant step forward in our ongoing commitment to sustainability and biodiversity, and we’re excited to see the positive impacts our joint efforts will bring.”

Implementation of this critical sustainability initiative is underway, with completion targeted by 2027.

About DP World

Trade is the lifeblood of the global economy, creating opportunities and improving the quality of life for people around the world. DP World exists to make the world’s trade flow better, changing what’s possible for the customers and communities we serve globally.

With a dedicated, diverse and professional team of more than 108,100 employees from 161 nationalities, spanning 74 countries on six continents, DP World is pushing trade further and faster towards a seamless supply chain that’s fit for the future.

We’re rapidly transforming and integrating our businesses — Ports and Terminals, Marine Services, Logistics and Technology – and uniting our global infrastructure with local expertise to create stronger, more efficient end-to-end supply chain solutions that can change the way the world trades.

What’s more, we’re reshaping the future by investing in innovation. From intelligent delivery systems to automated warehouse stacking, we’re at the cutting edge of disruptive technology, pushing the sector towards better ways to trade, minimising disruptions from the factory floor to the customer’s door.

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