as ‘absent’. Very few lake sturgeon were found in also lies between two dams and is considered to
‘rare’ areas, whereas areas designated as ‘common’ have remnant populations with habitat impacts and
contained many populations (i.e., dot density was exploitation having taken their toll. The Churchill
high). Data for Manitoba (Rob Cann personal com- River populations are poor. The most inland
munication) was of similar scope to the Ontario da- reaches of the river have remnant nonsustainable
ta but differed in category designation (Figure 4). populations severely impacted by changes to the
Our class of ‘absent’ was equivalent to their rem- hydraulic regime. Little is known about the status of
nant/extirpated, our ‘rare’ was equivalent to their downstream populations in the Churchill system;
poor/fair and ‘common’ was equivalent to good/un- the last section close to Hudson Bay supports only a
impacted. Fortin et al.^3 compiled the data base for remnant population due to habitat changes associ-
Quebec (Figure 5). Lake sturgeon distribution in ated with a major water diversion. Finally, the
Quebec is limited to the southeast corner of the Hayes River stocks are less impacted, which might
province and Fortin et al. reviewed the status of 14 be attributable to minimal habitat alteration. De-
populations within this distribution. These popula- spite being fished commercially, the populations
tions were designated as having either ‘common’ or appear to be sustaining themselves.
‘rare’ status with the intervening areas having ‘ab- In Ontario, robust, healthy populations are gen-
sent’ categorization. Quebec populations qualify- erally limited to more remote northern rivers and
ing for rare status were those where commercial lakes (Figure 4). The Mattagami-Groundhog, Fre-
fisheries have been closed due to overexploitation derick House, Moose, Albany and Attawapiskat
and, in one case, habitat alteration. The remaining rivers are prime examples (Duckworth et al.^1 ). Pop-
populations continue to support commercial and ulations from Lake of the Woods (Mosindy & Ru-
subsistence native fisheries and were considered to sak^4 ) and possibly, the north channel of Lake Huron
have common status. and southern Lake Huron appear to be increasing
In Manitoba, lake sturgeon were plentiful and from recent depressed levels and appear capable of
widely distributed as recently as one hundred years sustaining very modest fisheries (Duckworth et
ago (Anonymous^2 ). There are now very few waters al.^1 ). Existing evidence suggests that populations in
where lake sturgeon may still be commercially the Ottawa River, Lake Nipissing, Abitibi River, St.
fished; the species has been identified as vulnerable Lawrence River, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, and
under the Manitoba Endangered Species Act. Ma- Lake Superior are severely depressed and cannot
nitoba is considering the elimination of both sport sustain further harvest if they are to be rehabilitat-
and commercial harvests until stocks can be reha- ed. Although not formally adopted as policy, the
bilitated or stabilized. Populations in the Nelson Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources is taking a
River system vary from remnant to poor to good, conservative approach in allowing the commercial
depending on the section of the river (Figure 3). and sport harvest of lake sturgeon stocks. Legal
Stock status also varies within the Winnipeg River fishing has often been eliminated where stocks are
system. Remnant populations occur near the Onta- low. The quotas on lake sturgeon were removed
rio boundary. Populations in the next section west from commercial licenses in 1984 for Lake Erie, in
are fair to good even though they occur between 1990 for Lake Superior and the Ottawa River, and
two dams and aboriginal domestic harvest is consid- 1991 for Lake Nipissing and the Attawapiskat Riv-
ered to be beyond sustainable yield levels. The final er. The current implementation of the Canadian
section of the Winnipeg River near Lake Winnipeg federal habitat policy is protecting valuable lake
sturgeon habitat.
(^3) Fortin, R., S. Guenette & P. Dumont. 1992. Biologie, exploita-
tion, modelisation et gestion des populations d’esturgeon jaune
(Acipenser fulvescens) dans 14 reseaux de lacs et de rivieres du
Quebec. Rapport de Recherche Commanditee, Presente au
Gouvernement du Quebec, Ministere du Loisir, de la Chasse et
de la Peche. Direction de la gestion des especes et des habitats.
(^4) Mosindy, T. & J. Rusak. 1991. An assessment of lake sturgeon
populations in Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River, 1987–
- Lake of the Woods Fisheries Assessment Unit Report
1991:01.