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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.

STURGEON CONSERVATION TAGGING DERBY
From July 1st 2025 to April 9th 2026
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History

The Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society (FRSCS) was founded in 1997 in response to alarming signs that White Sturgeon populations in the Fraser River were in serious decline. A troubling die-off of large, mature sturgeon, particularly females, was observed in the early 1990s, prompting urgent action.

A diverse group of First Nations leaders, scientists, biologists, and fishing guides came together to form the FRSCS, united by a shared concern for this ancient species.

Their goal: to gather sound science, assess threats, and support the long-term recovery of White Sturgeon in the Lower Fraser River.

Founding Directors of the FRSCS

The Founding Directors of the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society.

From LTR: Rick Hansen, Wayne Yamaouchi, Marvin Rosenau, Ralph Roberts, Fred Helmer, Terry Slack, Calvin Higano

Having existed for over 200 million years, surviving the extinction of the dinosaurs and multiple ice ages, White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) also have cultural and spiritual importance to Indigenous and First Nations communities throughout the Fraser River watershed.

Sturgeon also help support the local economies in British Columbia by attracting tourists and fishers from around the world who come for the chance to meet these ‘living dinosaurs’. The conservation fee they pay fund much of the research that has taken place to understand these amazing animals.

1880-1981

Commercial harvest peaked in 1897 at 500,000 kg, followed by a rapid population decline after 1915

1993-1994

Unexplained die-offs of large adult sturgeon, mostly mature females

1994

First Nations imposed a voluntary moratorium on sturgeon harvest

1994

Government closes harvest fishery; Anglers and fishing guides lobbied for a regulation change to a catch-and-release fishery

1995-1999

Provincial Project: Conservation of White Sturgeon in the Lower Fraser River

1997

FRSCS Founded

2000

FRSCS Lower Fraser River White Sturgeon Monitoring and Assessment Program launched

2025

FRSCS Celebrates 25 years of the Lower Fraser River White Sturgeon Monitoring and Assessment Program, Collecting over 190,000 Samples

For over 25 years, FRSCS has made great progress identifying and addressing issues that affect the recovery of White Sturgeon in the Fraser River watershed. As we look ahead, our work builds on a rich legacy—protecting a species that has lived for over 200 million years. Through science-based research and community-driven initiatives, FRSCS continues to lead efforts to protect one of the planet’s oldest living species. 

We’re helping to write the next chapter in the species remarkable story and ensure they remain a vital part of the Fraser River ecosystem for generations to come.

Join The Legacy