U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)’s Post

Since 2012, our Lodi Fish and Wildlife Office has been tagging and monitoring white sturgeon to track their movements in the San Joaquin River and throughout California. We capture sturgeon and implant acoustic tags to monitor their locations. This tracking helps us understand when and where they spawn, as well as identify potential barriers to their migration. The information we gather supports efforts to protect and restore conditions and habitats conducive to sturgeon spawning and highlights areas where fish passage improvements are needed. Additionally, we collect tissue samples for our partners, who use geochemistry to create a timeline of habitat use throughout the sturgeon’s life and to conduct genetic analyses for a better understanding of white sturgeon demographics. Photos 1 by Gabi Dunn/USFWS Photo 2 by Gabi Garcia/USFWS Photo 3 by net setting photo by Geoff Steinhart/USFWS Photo 4 by Paul Cadrett/USFWS