Juvenile Atlantic sturgeon survival and movement in proximity to an active cutterhead suction dredge.

ABSTRACT: The Atlantic Sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus has suffered population declines throughout its range. Many knowledge gaps exist regarding how to mitigate threats and better inform recovery efforts. This study examined survival of juveniles during their movements through river reaches undergoing channel maintenance dredging operations. During 2019 and 2020, 268 (30-71cm fork length) juvenile Atlantic Sturgeon were captured and released in proximity to an active cutterhead suction dredge at three sites within the James River, Virginia. Juveniles were captured, some presumed feeding, around 95-145m from the dredge in areas that could easily be avoided if the dredge created a stressful environment. No significant trends in catch-per-unit-effort were found when trawl catch was compared t

SUBMITTER: Balazik M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11602117 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature