Lake sturgeon are classified as At Risk in the current General Status of Alberta Wild Species report. See:
Sturgeon are also classified as Threatened under Alberta’s Wildlife Act; protective regulations under this act
that apply to fish species are under development. See:
This species is also protected under the Alberta Fisheries Regulations, which regulate fisheries harvest in Alberta.
- Populations are at or below critical levels for sustainability.
- Threats include habitat degradation and fragmentation.
- Inherent biological characteristics make recovery difficult.
Fish Sustainability Index
Alberta's lake sturgeon populations have been assessed under the Fish Sustainability Index, see:
Lake sturgeon are cool-water game fish subject to current Alberta sportfishing regulations. For details, see the My Wild
Alberta website at:
Sturgeon fishing is strictly catch and release to preserve this unusual and interesting species. For an explanation of current
management strategies, see:
Lake sturgeon monitoring in the North Saskatchewan River was recently profiled in an episode of Hidden Gems on
the Alberta Prime Time website. See:
Updated: Apr 11, 2018