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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
White Sturgeon are wild, healthy, and naturally sustaining throughout the Fraser River watershed.
To achieve our vision, we work collaboratively with First Nations, Provincial and Federal
governments, and other partners, by leveraging science and knowledge to accelerate the recovery of White Sturgeon throughout the Fraser River ecosystem.
