### Semi**- annual Progress Report**  Section 6 Proactive Species Conservation Program Award Number : NAI0NMF4720030 Award Period : 06/01/2010
- 05/31/2013 Report period : 12/01/2010

– 5/3 1 /2011 Grant Title : “ Sturgeons in the M id
- Atlantic Region: A Multi
- S tate C ollaboration of

Research and Conservation” Grantee : Delaware Department of Natural Res ources and Environmental Control Division of Fish and Wildlife (DNREC
- DFW) Project Manager : Edna J. Stetzar, DNREC
- DFW

Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program 4 876 Hay Point Landing Rd, Smy

rna , DE 19977 P hone Number: (302) 73 5
- 8654 Edna.Stetzar@state.de.us Reported by : Tom Savoy, Connecticut Department of Environmental Prote ction Jeanette Bowers - Altman, N ew Jersey Dep artment o f Environmental Protection Heather Corbett, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Matthew Oliver, University of Delaware John Madsen, University of Delaware Deway ne Fox, De laware State University Matthew Fisher, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Compiled by : Edna J. Stetzar, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Report submitted on June 30 , 2011 to https://grantsonline.rdc.noaa.gov

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### Summary As described in greater detail below, obstacles to funding disbursement have delayed progress and therefore, expenditures and fulfillment of objectives are in part nearl y one field season behind what was anticipated. Despite the delay, some progress was made on most of the original objectives due to dedication of the partners involved in this effort. A collaborative effort to exchange information , resources and to provide support has facilitated this progress. Work continues this field season to meet objectives that will benefit regional managers and ultimatel y result in information on the habitat requirements, migratory pathways, and life history characteristic s for Atlantic and shortnose sturgeons which co - occur in the Delaware, Hudson, and Connecticut Rivers. Project Goals and Objectives **1 -**  **Identification of shortnose sturgeon spawning sites and characterization of early life history habitats in the non**  **- tidal**  **Delaware River** Progress on the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection ’s (NJDEP) effort to identify shortnose sturgeon spawning areas in the nontidal Delaware River, explore the upstream extent of spawning activities, and document earl y life history requirements did not proceed as scheduled due to funds not being appropriated in time to proceed with the necessary state authorizations. This work is being contracted to fisheries experts and a spending plan approval transmittal form was submitted , approved and signed by the DEP Commissioner’s Office in late April, 2011. NJDEP is now going through the process of securing a Waiver of Advertising through a 52:349a Statutory Justification for contract work of a highly technical and profes sional nature. **2 -**  **Distribution and habitat use of early stage juvenile Atlantic sturgeon in Delaware waters**  Results/Discussion Gillnetting began on August 30th , 201 1 and continued until Nov. 1 st 

### , 2011 with 17 days of sampling effort . Gillnetting effort occurred at 6 sites; Hamburg cove, New Castle, Cherry

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### Island Flats , Marcus Hook anchorage, Tinicum Island, and Mifflin anchorage. The se sites were identified as early

stage juvenile habitat based on manual tracking results in 2009
- 2 010, DFW trawl survey

capture locations and a single report from a commercial fisherman of a young of the ye ar captured in a crab trap
. The Marcus Hook anchorage was the onl y site that produced earl y stage juvenile Atlantic sturgeon during the sampling survey ( Table of capture locations ? )
. After the first young of the year was captured on September 30 th 

### , the remaining gillnetting effort (n=7 days ) occurred at the Marcus Hook anchorage. A total of 48 young of the year Atlantic sturgeon were captured with 3 of those individuals being recaptured. Three additional juvenile Atlantic sturgeon and one juvenile shortnose sturgeon w ere also captured during the season
. These sites produced onl y one Atlantic sturgeon (608 mm TL) with 9 days of effort. With cooperative efforts from sturgeon researcher H. Brundage (ERC), downloading and manual tracking efforts indicated some juvenile sturgeon activity at Carney ’s point. The 4 days of remaining ef fort focused on Carney ’s point and produced the remaining 10 Atlantic sturgeon. They ranged in size from 608 to 672 mm TLand although they are larger than the earl y stage juvenile target (<500 mm TL) all were implanted with transmitters. This was done b ecause earl y stage juveniles <500 mm TLwere unable to be captured and it is likely (based on average length over time of the 2009 year class fish)(Figure 1) that these fish are 2009 year class river residents and produce valuable seasonal movement and hab itat locations. Gillnetting ceased on Nov ember 24th, prior to water temperature dropping to 7° C. The remaining transmitters (n=19) were repurposed to segment 5 work (D. Fox). Sampling occurred in the 3 young - of
- the
- ye ar (YoY) locations observed from earlier work in 2009 and since no YoY were captured (additionally no YoY were captured by ERC) (Figure 1) it is likely

that the 2010 year class numbers are poor. CPUE of earl y stage juvenile gillnetting in 2010 decreased from 1.8 in 2009 to 0.8. The reason for a poor 2010 year class is unknown although initial observations indicate the period of spawning in 2009 had much lower conductivity

due to high amounts of rainfall compared to a dry 2010. Additional year- class strength observations in future years of this project may allow for some analysis in the area of environmental drivers of year- class strength. Based on the growth observed b y comparing length at capture of 2009 YoY sturgeon, H. Brundage captures in the spring/summer of 2010, and captures b y Brundage and Fisher in fall of 2010 the 2009 year class is growing rapidly (Figure 1). Due to this rapid growth, all 11 Atlantic

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### sturgeon that received transmitters are believed to be 2009 year class fish.

Figure 1. Delaware Division of Fish and Wil dlife and ERC (H. Brundage) captures of Atlantic sturgeon in the Delaware Estuary in 2009 and 2010 by Length. The shortest groups of sturgeon in each sampling period represent the 2009 ye ar class as representatives in that class and were captured over 2 sampling seasons. Note: In the fall of 2010 no individuals in the young of year size range (200
- 400 mm TL) were captured. Passive tracking Receivers were deplo ye d in new locations in November to bolster the existing Delaware array (n= 5) within the sampling area and as replacements in existing locations (n=4). Three additional receivers were placed in the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal and Elk River to monitor transfer between the Chesapeake and Delaware sys tems of shortnose and Atlant ic sturgeon. They

were deployed on April 7th, 2011 when the threat of ice had subsided. Previously

deplo yed receivers were left in place all winter. A harsh winter in the Delaware Estuary can produce enough ice to pull receivers off their mounts so weat her was carefully monitored throughout the season. No receivers were lost due to ice.

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### Due to gillnetting efforts in the first segment producing 11 Atlantic sturgeon, priority was placed on active tracking of individuals. All were implanted with short delay transmitters. This resulted in only

4 months of passive movement data rather than the planned for 12 months. However, this short passive monitoring season allows for more complete analysis in this project segment. In the first month post
- implantation, the majority of sturgeon dropped downriver at least 20 rkm and into the Bay until mid
- December (Figure 2).

**Figure 2.** Colored lines and sy mbols represent juvenile Atlantic sturgeon (608
- 672 mm TL , n=11) that were implanted with VEMCO V8 and V9 transmitters and monitored by the Delaware Estuary receiver array . River kilometer (rkm) is expressed as a daily average rkm loc ation. The b lue line Water Temperature (°C) was recorded at the Reedy I sland Jetty

Gage # 01482800. The estuary array coverage is sparse below rkm 70 and receivers are pulled in December for the winter months. This is the likely reason there was only o ne detection in the estuary below rkm 70. Four individuals were detected offshore (and subsequently plotted at rkm 0 on the X
- axis). Six of the 11 individuals remained in the estuary with one unable to be located in the winter months but it is believed to have left the Estuary for the winter. Five of the 6 juveniles exhibited preference for the 122
- 133 rkm (Marcus Hook Bar, Anchorage and Range) in the winter months.

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### Transmitters expired on March 9 th 

### and March 24 th 

### , 2011. Detections in the mid and lower Bay (<70 rkm) are sparse during this time because receivers had been removed for the winter in early December. Four of the 11 sturgeon were detected on offshore receivers (Dec 7th to 18th) just prior to removal of the receivers for the winter (Table 1). Table 1. Juvenile Atlantic sturgeon captured in 2010 by the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife and implanted with transmitters.

release date species capture location total

length fork length t -bar PIT tissue transmitter comments 10/25/2010 Atlantic

sturgeon Tinicum near

buoy 3T 608 NA 44171 985121014380141 NA 39574 Overwintered in Marcus Hook area 11/11/2010 Atlantic

sturgeon Carney's Point 645 558 44172 985121014380141 yes 39577 Overwintered in Marcus Hook area 11/11/2010 Atlantic

sturgeon Carney's Point 662 561 44173 985121014378011 yes 39578 Overwintered in Marcus Hook area 11/11/2010 Atlantic

sturgeon Carney's Point 626 536 44174 985121014377507 yes 39579 Overwintered in Marcus Hook area 11/11/2010 Atlantic

sturgeon Carney's Point 608 519 44175 985121014376461 yes 39575 Did not overwinter in the River
- last detected offshore
- 12/15/2010 11/11/2010 Atlantic

sturgeon Carney's Point 622 537 44176 985121014376283 yes 39576 D id not overwinter in the River
- last detected offshore
- 12/18/2010 11/11/2010 Atlantic

sturgeon Carney's Point 614 518 44177 985121014376262 yes 39582 Overwintered above Philadelphia, last detected 1/10/2011 @ rkm 186 11/11/2010 Atlantic

sturgeon Carney's Point 669 571 44178 985121014376206 yes 39583 Did not overwinter in the River
- last detected offshore
- 12/16/2010

11/12/2011 Atlantic

sturgeon Carney's Point 616 534 44182 985121014376171 yes 39599 Did not overwinter in the River
- last detected moving from the river into the bay 12/18/2010 11/23/2011 Atlantic

sturgeon Carney's Point 621 537 44183 985121014375930 yes 39598 Overwintered in Marcus Hook area

11/23/2011 Atlantic

sturgeon Carney's Point 672 571 44184 985121014380526 yes 39597 Did not overwinter in the River
detected offshore 12/14/2010 then detected in James River 2/12/2011 until tag expiration 3/24/2011 (pers com. C. Frederickson) 

### A 5th sturgeon was last detected leaving the river and moving into the Bay and was not detected again in the River suggesting it left the system with the other 4 or it possibly overwintered in the Bay . Receiver data from Bay and offshore receivers that were redeployed in the earl y spring are unavailable as of the date of this writing.

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### In late December and early January, 5 of the 6 remaining juveniles settled into their overwintering nursery

area in the Marcus Hook Bar/Anchorage/Channel area (rkm 122
- 130 ). The 6th juvenile (#39582) overwintered above Philadelphia and was last detected on January 10th, 2011 at rkm 186. Activity levels were low during cold temperatures. Receiver coverage is sparse above Philadelphia with only 6 receivers covering 60 rkm which is why a sturgeon can have an additional 2 months of transmitter battery life after its last detection and not be detected. Funding from segment 1 is going to be used to bolster this area in the near future. The 5 overwintering juveniles in the Marcus Hook area also indicated low amounts of movement. This area is well covered b y receivers (5 in 8 rkm of the Marcus Hook area) so these fish were detected despite their low movement behavior (Figure 2). Inmid
- February

water temperatures warmed to 2° C and by late February

were above 4°C. This time period showed a slight increase in movement until March when more regular warm water movements resumed. The Marcus Hook anchorage is an area where the deepwater river widens and is also a high use summer and fall juvenile feeding area. This scenario likel y creates a flow refuge where light foraging can occur with a low energy budget during the coldest time of the year. Due to the use of compatible telemetry equipment in the James River, sturgeon #39597 (after being detected on 12/14/2011 offshore) was detected in the James River from 2/12/2011 until tag expiration on 3/24/2011. It was detected at Fort Pocohantas on 2/12 and moved up river and went as far as buo y 82 (Windmill Point, approx
. rkm 80) on 3/24 (pers com. C. Frederickson). This was not the first DNREC
- DFW sturgeon to overwinter in the James River
. A 1015 mm TLindividual (tagged 7/19/2007) overwintered there both winters that the tag was active (pers com. C. Hager). It then resumed its early summer through fall foraging in the Delaware River in 2008 and 2009. Other juveniles tagged b y DNREC
- DFW have briefl y been detected in the James in April before migrating to the Delaware River . Communication and sharing of information as well as leaving receivers in place during the winter months is vital to understanding movements of this highly migratory species. Manual tracking

- report period 2 Due to activities starting later than scheduled, manual tracking commenced from January 4th to March 1st, 2 011 when the river was clear of ice (n=9). The tracking area extended from Artificial Island (rkm 88) to Commodore Barry Bridge (rkm 134) with the effort area divided b y

### Ju ne 2011 Progress Report
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### the Delaware Memorial Bridge for logistical reasons. Each of the 6 tagged sturgeon that overwintered in the Delaware River were detected at least once. Of the remaining 6, 5 overwintered primarily in the Marcus Hook anchorage, range and bar area (Marcus Hook area) (Figure 3). The 6th fish lagged behind most of the others in its movements and was located only once adjacent to the federal channel in the New Castle range (rkm 105). GPS locations were plotted over Benthic mapping program (DNREC, B. Wilson) bottom substrate ty

pes (Figure 3).

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### Figure 3. Colored dots represent manual tracking locations of five Atlantic sturgeon juveniles (608
- 662 mm TL) in the Delaware River (rkm 120
- 134). Tracking occurred when the river was

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### clear of ice (n=9) from January 4 through March 1, 2011. The tracking area extended from Artificial Island (rkm 88) to Commodore Barry Bridge (rkm 134). A 6th sturgeon (not shown) was located adjacent to the federal channel in the New Castle range over sandy silts (rkm 105, 39.65538,
- 75.5487). Passive telemetry data indicates this 6 th 

### sturgeon overwintered above Philadelphia out of tracking range. Five additional juveniles (608
- 672 mm TL) received transmitters in the Fall of 2010 and were not detected in the river during the tracking period. Four of those 5 were detected offshore (D. Fox pers. com). Hatin et al. 2007 documented habitat preferences for age
- 2 Atlantic sturgeon in the St. Lawrence as 6 to 10 meters of depth in freshwater (<0.5 ppt), a bottom current velocity of 0.26
- 0.50 m/s and a dominate substrate of silty clay
. Overwintering (age
- 2) Delaware River Atlantic sturgeon were located over the most available substrate type (silt to coarse sand) (Table 2). Table 2. Location habitat of overwintering Delaware River resident juvenile sturgeon in 2011.

Date Time ID Lat. Long. Water Temp
. (°C) Conductivity

(μ/cm) Salinity

(ppt) Bottom substrate type

(Benthic Mapping Program, DNREC) Depth Federal channel (F), anchorage (A), other (O) 1/4/2011 2:36:14 PM 39582 39.65538
- 75.5487 1.3 8500 8.9 silt 10.7 O 1/6/2011 2:37:49 PM 39579 39.77950
- 75.4553 1.3 1200 1.1 fine silt to med sand 8.5 O 1/19/2011 2:39:43 PM 39578 39.80381
- 75.4114 0.6 600 0.6 silty medium sand 13.1 A 1/19/2011 2:27:16 PM 39598 39.80478
- 75.4057 0.6 600 0.6 silty medium sand 13.1 A 1/19/2011 3:09:44 PM 39577 39.80931
- 75.3951 0.6 600 0.6 fine silt to medium sand 13.4 A 2/4/2011 12:09:36 PM 39578 39.79905
- 75.4108 0.9 478 0.4 coarse sand 13.7 A 2/4/2011 1:04:19 PM 39579 39.80613
- 75.3991 0.9 478 0.4 silty medium sand 13.1 A 2/4/2011 1:14:44 PM 39574 39.80762
- 75.3980 0.9 478 0.4 coarse sand 12.5 A 2/4/2011 1:57:58 PM 39577 39.81566
- 75.3862 0.8 450 0.4 coarse sand 13.7 A 2/4/2011 2:15:35 PM 39598 39.82300
- 75.3783 0.8 450 0.4 coarse sand 13.4 F 2/7/2011 12:14:48 PM 39598 39.78991
- 75.4458 1.5 350 0.2 coarse sand 12.8 F 2/7/2011 1:35:39 PM 39578 39.80000
- 75.4144 1.5 350 0.2 silty medium sand 11.9 A 2/7/2011 2:33:18 PM 39577 39.81817
- 75.3842 2.9 390 0.3 silty medium sand 13.4 A 2/17/2011 11:58:09 AM 39579 39.77958
- 75.4572 2.3 553 0.5 fine sand 8.5 O 2/17/2011 1:29:49 PM 39578 39.79927
- 75.4213 2.3 553 0.5 coarse sand 12.8 A 2/17/2011 12:54:46 PM 39577 39.79945
- 75.4246 2.3 553 0.5 sandy pebbles 14.6 F 2/23/2011 12:38:50 PM 39579 39.78933
- 75.4467 3.8 300 0.2 sandy pebbles 12.8 F 2/23/2011 1:08:52 PM 39577 39.79737
- 75.4289 3.8 300 0.2 coarse sand 13.7 F 2/23/2011 2:19:17 PM 39574 39.81243
- 75.3905 3.8 300 0.2 coarse sand 13.1 A 3/1/2011 1:56:00 PM 39574 39.80772
- 75.4017 5.2 257 0.2 silty medium sand 13.7 A 3/1/2011 12:44:33 PM 39577 39.81744
- 75.3890 5.2 257 0.2 fine silt to medium sand 14.0 F

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### Sturgeon were located in the Federal Channel (29%), anchorage (57%), and other deepwater habitat (14%) at depths of 8.5
- 14.6 m. Most sturgeon locations (76%) were near the freshwater interface (<0.5ppt) with one location in 8.9 ppt salinity (Table 2), we ll above Hatin et al’s (2007) observed limit of 6 ppt. An additional sturgeon (tagged b y H. Brundage
- ERC) was located in 12.5 ppt salinity near Artificial Island on January 4, 2011, however a GPS location could not be made due to the long delay of the transmitter. Neither fish lingered in this high salinity for long. In five days the ERC tagged sturgeon was overwintering in the Marcus Hook area and the other overwintered above the tracking zone (last detected at Edgewater rkm 186) in freshwater (0.0 ppt). Sturgeon were not located in the Marcus Hook annual dredging maintenance area in the federal channel during the winter of 2011 (Figure 3

– see green area, fine silts, in the federal channel). This area is dredged annually and was dredged onl y a few months prior to tracking. This suggests that the depositional zone has likely not yet incurred a benthic community rebound during the tracking period or the concentration of fine silts settling near the bottom may not be hospitable for overwintering sturgeon. Juvenile nursery area shift Brundage and Meadows (1982) compiled sturgeon locations in the Delaware Estuary and noted 4 juveniles <300 mm TLin the 1970s. Three of the 4 were captured at rkm 190
- 203, with one being caught north of Pea Patch Island (rkm 100). Twenty- five juveniles, 300
- 700 mm TL , were located from the mouth of the Bay (rkm 0) to Newbold Island (rkm 200) with no locations occurring from rkm 86 to 199. Lazzari (1986) documented the nursery and subsequent overwintering area of early stage juveniles in the upper tidal river (Duck Island and Roebling, NJ area rkm 185
- 199). Lingering water quality issues (dissolved oxygen) lifted in the 1990s (Figure 4).

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### Figure 4. Dissolved oxygen concentration MINIMA of daily means at Benjamin Franklin Bridge (rkm 158), Delaware River. The horizontal dotted line represents an approximate sturgeon stress threshold of 3.5 mg/L. Figure provided by E. L. Silldorff at Delaware River Basin Commission.

Then in February

of 2005, H. Brundage captured an age
- 1 Atlantic sturgeon in the Marcus Hook anchorage (rkm 130). In 2009, DNREC
- DFW and H. Brundage captured 56 age
- 0 Atlantic sturgeon from rkm 115 to 130 and again in 2010 individuals from that year class were captured as age
- 1’s from rkm 110 to 141. The 2009 (Fisher 2011) and 2010 telemetry locations (Figure 5) suggest a location shift in the primary nursery and overwintering area from what was seen b y Lazzari 1986 and earlier studies . Poor water quality likel y kept age - 0 sturgeon above Philadelphia until their first winter and early spring as age
- 1’s. Improving water quality has allowed age
- 0 juvenile Atlantic sturgeon to occupy additional habitat from the freshwater interface to the upper tidal river.

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### Figure 5. Red dots (n=67) represent exact and approximate (within 1km) tracking locations of Atlantic sturgeon juveniles tagged b y DFW and ERC (H. Brundage). Some individual locations are approximate because the long transmitter delay did not allow for a refined location. Despite this, general concentration areas can be observed on this map. Tracking occurred from January 4 th 

### to March 1 st 

### , 2011 from Artificial Island to Commodore Barry Bridge (area pictured). On February 2 nd 

### , tracking in the lower area was abandoned due to no fish remaining in the area and effort was focused from Delaware Memorial Bridge to the Commodore Barry Bridge. Literature Cited Brundage, H. M. and R. E. Meadows. 1982. The Atlantic Sturgeon, Acipenser oxy rhynchus, in the Delaware River Estuary . Fishery Bulletin. 80(2):337
- 343. Damon
- Randall, K., R. Bohl, S. Bolden, D. Fox, C. Hager, B. Hickson, E. Hilton, J. Mohler, E. Robbins, T. Savoy, and A. Spells. 2010. Atlantic Sturgeon Research Techniques. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS
-NE
- 215. 74pp. Fisher, M. 2011. Atlantic Sturgeon Final Report State Wildlife Grant. Project T
- 4
- 1. Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife, Dover. Hatin, D., J. Munro, F. Caron, and R. D. Simons. 2007. Movements, Home Range Size, and Habitat Use and Selection of Earl y Juvenile Atlantic Sturgeon in the St. Lawrence Estuarine Transition Zone. Pages 129
- 155 in J. Munro, D. Hatin, J. E. Hightower, K. McKown, K. J. Sulak, A. W. Kahnle, and F. Caron, editors. Anadromous sturgeons: habitats, threats, and management. American Fisheries Society, S ymposium 56, Bethesda, Maryland. Lazzari, M. A., J. C. O’Herron II, R. W. Hastings. 1986. Occurrence of Juvenile Atlantic sturgeon Acipenser oxyrhynchus in the Upper Tidal River. E stuaries. 9:356
- 361. Expenditures
 Salary /fringe: $22,268.18
 Travel: $461.18
 Supplies: $8,447.14
 * Contractual : $ 5 , 029.50 Total: $ 36 ,206.00 (* Contractual expenditures include ex penditures made by D

NREC
-DF W for this objective during this reporting period
. Because D

NREC
-DFW is the lead agency on this project, total overall contractual expenditures include $521,317 which were funds paid out to project partners in the State of Connecticut, State of New Jersey and University of Delaware which have reported

### Ju ne 2011 Progress Report
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### any expenditures of these funds to date in this report
. ) Acknowledgements

Cathy, Jared, Zina, Eric, Sam, Lauren, and the volunteers too many to mention, your help in the field is most appreciated. Jared Jacobini and Lauren Johnson contributed with data entry and with the creation of figures. Lori Brown, Matt Breece and Dewayne Fox provided passive array

data quickly

and efficiently
. The ERC (H. Brundage) work described in this segment was funded b y the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers through the Seaboard Fisheries Institute. All folks mentioned contributed greatl y to making this first segment of work successful and their hard work is appreciated. **3 -**  **Distribution and habitat use of juvenile Atlantic sturgeon in New Jersey waters** Funding was not appropriated through the New Jersey budgetary

s ys tem in time to perform the project requirements during this segment. Now that funding is accessible, justifications for purchasing equipment will be submitted to the State of New Jersey by the end of June. All equipment will be purchased upon approval of the justifications and is expected to be completed during the next reporting period. The NJDEP plans to expand the existing telemetry receiver network b y purchasing and deploying 20 new VEMCO VR2 receivers in N ew Jersey waters of the Delaware Bay . Data from the receivers will be downloaded monthl y from March through November. In addition, NJDEP will 1) upgrade, expand and maintain the current telemetry receiver network and 2) collect, acoustically

tag and track earl y juvenile Atlantic and juvenile shortnose sturgeon to supplement the juvenile tracking performed in D elaware . This work, which is being contracted to fisheries experts, did not proceed as scheduled due to funds not being appropriated in time to proceed with the necessary state authorizations. A spending plan approval transmittal form was submitted , approved and signed b y the NJDEP Commissioner’s Office in late April, 2011. NJDEP is now going through the process of securing a W aiver of Advertising for contract work through a 52:349a Statutory Justification for work of a highl y technical and professional nature. **4 -**  **Hydroacoustic assessment of Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon habitat requirements in the Delaware River Estuary**  Summary

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### During the 12/1/2010 to 5/31/2011 time period , funds for Year 1 activities were finally available to the University of Delaware (UD) team. The effective date at which funds were available within a UD account was April 5, 2011. On April 8th, proj ect investigators Deway ne Fox (from Delaware State University) and John Madsen (UD) met with Bartholomew Wilson (DNREC
- Coastal Programs, D elaware Bay Benthic Mapping Project) to discuss the integration of benthic habitat mapping data that has been collecte d in the areas of interest with hydroacoustic and side
- scan sonar data. Preliminary plans were discussed for data collection once the requisite equipment (i.e. side
- scan sonar) was available for the project. On May 6, 2011 a UD purchase order was approv ed for an Edgetech 4125P high
-resolution side
- scan sonar system that is to be used as part of the remote sensing of habitat utilization for both Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon. The system is currentl y being process b y Edgetech and delivery is expected within the month of June. Expenditures: Equipment and Supplies: Edgetech 4125
- P Side
- Scan Sonar $40,565.00 **5 -**  **Spawning habitats and interbasin exchange rates of Atlantic sturgeon in the New York Bight DPS**  Summary Due to delays in securing funding , Delaware State University (DSU
- D. Fox) was unable to conduct directed fall gill
-net sampling targeting adult and juvenile Atlantic sturgeon. The funding allocated for the fall sampling was combined with additional funding from the final ye ar of a contract between DSU, the F.V. Dana Christine, and NOAA
-NERO
- OPR. Spring sampling commenced in earl y April and concluded in mid
- May as water temperatures began to warm and the possibility

of gear interactions with marine mammals and sea turtles increased. During the directed spring sampling a total of 215 Atlantic sturgeon capture events comprised of 213 individuals were recorded. In addition to the two in
- season recaptures (0 and 1 day at liberty) a total of 10 additional Atlantic sturgeon recapture events took place. Background Atlantic sturgeon are currently being considered for listing under the Endangered Species Act and an Atlantic sturgeon status review team (AS SRT) was convened by NMFS. In

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### February 2007, the AS SRT identified five distinct population se gments (DPSs) of Atlantic sturgeon and recommended that three of these warranted listing under the ESA. In the status review report, the ASSRT concluded that there is an extant, reproducing subpopulation of Atlantic sturgeon present in the Delaware River. This conclusion was also supported by the results of two recent genetic studies (Grunwald et al. 2007, Wirgin et al. 2007) which noted the existence of a relict spawning population of Atlantic sturgeon in the Delaware River. More recentl y, numerous coll ections of both YOY and age
- 1 Atlantic sturgeon in the Delaware have confirmed the existence of this spawning population (DNREC 2009). An additional finding of the AS SRT was the overall lack of basic biological data , including habitat requirements for many of the Atlantic sturgeon subpopulations , in the New York Bight DPS which includes the Delaware River. The project outlined below represents the continuation of a currently funded project through a contract with the NMFS
- Office of Protected Resources
- Gloucester, MA office. Funding for the current project concludes in December 2011 and we are seeking an additional ye ar of funding to allow continued support for our offshore collections as well as maintaining existing passive acoustic receivers in the Hudson River. Objectives The primary

objective of this study

is to provide detailed information on the location of Atlantic sturgeon spawning in the Delaware River. In addition, the use of compatible telemetry systems in the Delaware, Connecticut, and Hudson Rivers will allow for more precise estimates of interbasin exchange rates for adult Atlantic sturgeon in both segments of the New York Bight DPS. Methods The existing passive listening array in the Delaware River Estuary, and off the coast of MD, DE and NJ was maintained and expanded. Also deployed were a series of receivers in the Hudson River and the New York Harbor to monitor the presence of telemetered Atlantic sturgeon. The arrays consisted of VR
- 2W receivers, which were comprised of a hydrophone, internal data storage and battery (expected life 18 months). The receivers are designed to detect and record the identification codes of VEMCO Ltd. ultrasonic transmitters within range of the receiver along with the time, date, and sensor data (if present). The receivers were moored either to United State s Coast Guard (USCG) aids to navigation (ATON) or independently to concrete

### Ju ne 2011 Progress Report
-NAI0NMF4720030 Page **18** of **32** 

### blocks and downloaded on an approximately monthly basis. Nine passive acoustic receivers were deplo ye d in a line just north of the gillnetting operations with the first receiver located 1km offshore and the remaining receivers deplo yed at 2km intervals at distances from 2
- 16km offshore. Atlantic sturgeon were captured using gill nets and techniques similar to those developed in the Atlantic sturgeon coastal intercept fishery bef ore its closure in 1998. During typical operations up to two monofilament gill nets , each consisting of twenty panels (91.0m x 6.1m) strung together, were fished as one long net. The individual net strings were constructed of differing mesh and twine configurations. One net of twenty panels was comprised entirel y of 30.5cm stretch mesh with a twine size of 0.98mm. The other primary net was comprised of ten panels each of 30.5 cm stretch mesh with 0.90mm twine and 33.0 cm stretch mesh with a corresponding twine size of 1.20mm. Additionally a net comprised of 10 panels of 22.9 cm stretch mesh with a .98mm twine size was occasionally utilized . All nets were constructed with a hanging ratio of 0.5 and individual panels were configured in an alternating pattern using tie
downs or no
- tie downs in an attempt to assess the influence of tie
- downs on Atlantic sturgeon capture rates. The nets were fished daily for approximately

6
- 8 hours each day

with soak times limited to 2
- 3 hours to reduce the stress and potential mortality on any Atlantic sturgeon captured. Each gillnet was also outfitted with acoustic pingers (Fumunda, specs : freq. 10 kHz, power 132 dB) at the beginning of the net and at the junction of each gillnet panel to help deter marine mammal interacti ons. Water temperature, and salinity were recorded at the start of each gillnetting location using a Yellow Springs Institute YSI85 , and substrate samples were taken using a Petite Ponar® to determine bottom composition on both ends of the netting locations. Soak time was defined as the time from the net first entering the water until the completion of hauling. The start and end points of each net deploy ment were recorded with a GPS and depth was recorded with a hull mounted echosounder. Results a nd Discussion Telemetry Arra

y A number of passive acoustic receivers were maintained in the Delaware River Estuary during the winter months by collaborators. Additional receivers were deployed b y DSU to support the identification of spawning areas and to describe the migratory patterns of Atlantic

### Ju ne 2011 Progress Report
-NAI0NMF4720030 Page **19** of **32** 

### sturgeon during the earl y spring of 2010. Beginning on March 30 th 

### , a total of 20 passive acoustic receivers were deployed on USCG ATONs along the DE, MD, NJ coasts. Nine additional passive receivers were deployed on April 7 th 

### to form a coastal ‘ gate ’. On April 23, an additional 10 acoustic receivers were deplo yed in the Delaware River to fill in holes in the existing array with the goal of refining the asses sment of spawning activities. The final deploy ment in the Delaware s ys tem took place on May 5 th 

### when 19 receivers were deplo yed on USCG ATONs in the Delaware Bay . Hudson River deploy ments were initiated on March 7 th 

### when a total of seven receivers were p lace in NY Harbor and the lower portions of the river. This deploy ment was followed by the placement of an additional six receivers on May 11 th 

### . Hudson River receivers were also supplemented by overwinter deploy

ments for a study

focused on striped bass residency being conducted b y the University of Maryland. Additionally, NYDEC deployed a number of fully compatible passive receivers for work on American shad during the earl y spring. Sampling Directed sampling in coastal waters b y DSU for Atlantic sturgeon took place on the chartered F.V. from April 2 and concluded on May 13, 201 1 ( Table 3 ). Table 3: Collections of Atlantic sturgeon b y Delaware State University during the reporting period of 12/1/2010 to 05/31/2011.
**Fish ID Date**  **Fork Length**  **(cm )**  **Total Length**  **(cm )**  **Weight**

**(kg) Sex**  **Acoustic**

**Transmitter Recapture**  **Net Type**
**DSU AS 2011 -**  **1** 4/2/2011 208 230 83 Female Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **2** 4/2/2011 114 125 15 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -** **3** 4/2/2011 189 214 65 Female Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011**  **- 4**  4/3/2011 170 192 46 Male Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **5** 4/3/2011 141 162 27 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **6** 4/3/2011 167 190 43 Male Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **7** 4/3/2011 167 190 45 Male Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **8** 4/3/2011 173 198 45 Male Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **9** 4/6/2011 186 208 56 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **10** 4/7/2011 161 178 41 Unknown Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **11** 4/10/2011 158 178 36 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **12** 4/10/2011 139 155 21 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **13** 4/10/2011 134 152 22 Unknown Yes Stand Up

### Ju ne 2011 Progress Report
-NAI0NMF4720030 Page **20** of **32 Table 3 Continued**  **Fish ID Date**  **Fork Length**  **(cm )**  **Total Length**  **(cm )**  **Weight**

**(kg) Sex**  **Acoustic**

**Transmitter Recapture**  **Net Type DSU AS 2011**  **- 14**  4/13/2011 189 206 64 Male Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **15** 4/13/2011 183 207 58 Unknown Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **16** 4/14/2011 121 134 20 Unknown Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **17** 4/14/2011 158 179 43 Unknown Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **18** 4/14/2011 136 153 29 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **19** 4/14/2011 126 138 21 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **20** 4/14/2011 137 160 22 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **21** 4/17/2011 181 193 54 Female Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **22** 4/17/2011 185 206 55 Female Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **23** 4/17/2011 155 172 33 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011**  **- 24**  4/17/2011 148 166 26 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **25** 4/17/2011 160 176 45 Male Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **26** 4/17/2011 178 203 56 Unknown Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **27** 4/17/2011 148 163 33 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **28** 4/17/2011 122 136 16 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **29** 4/18/2011 208 230 70 Female Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -** **30** 4/18/2011 138 162 28 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -** **31** 4/18/2011 144 160 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -** **32** 4/18/2011 173 196 46 Male Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -** **33** 4/18/2011 136 152 25 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -** **34** 4/18/2011 166 188 47 Female Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -** **35** 4/18/2011 157 175 38 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -** **36** 4/19/2011 211 237 95 Female Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -** **37** 4/19/2011 148 175 37 Unknown Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -** **38** 4/19/2011 159 175 43 Male Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -** **39** 4/19/2011 153 171 39 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **40** 4/19/2011 150 168 36 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **41** 4/19/2011 144 167 36 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **42** 4/19/2011 129 143 24 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **43** 4/19/2011 121 134 17 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **44** 4/19/2011 147 166 34 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **45** 4/20/2011 177 198 43 Male Yes Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011**  **- 46**  4/20/2011 171 192 43 Female Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **47** 4/20/2011 147 164 30 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **48** 4/20/2011 170 188 45 Unknown Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **49** 4/20/2011 165 187 44 Unknown No Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **50** 4/21/2011 183 206 60 Unknown Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **51** 4/21/2011 119 137 18 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **52** 4/21/2011 171 181 40 Unknown Yes Yes Stand Up

### Ju ne 2011 Progress Report
-NAI0NMF4720030 Page **21** of **32 Table 3 Continued**  **Fish ID Date**  **Fork Length**  **(cm )**  **Total Length**  **(cm )**  **Weight**

**(kg) Sex**  **Acoustic**

**Transmitter Recapture**  **Net Type DSU AS 2011**  **- 53**  4/21/2011 174 195 62 Female Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **54** 4/21/2011 177 200 65 Female Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **55** 4/21/2011 215 237 98 Female Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **56** 4/21/2011 181 203 63 Unknown Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **57** 4/21/2011 165 183 51 Unknown Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **58** 4/21/2011 145 163 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **59** 4/21/2011 149 178 34 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **60** 4/21/2011 192 215 65 Unknown Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **61** 4/21/2011 153 170 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **62** 4/21/2011 146 167 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **63** 4/25/2011 140 155 26 Unknown No Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **64** 4/25/2011 123 140 19 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **65** 4/25/2011 170 196 51 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **66** 4/25/2011 151 170 31 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **67** 4/25/2011 150 169 40 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **68** 4/25/2011 156 177 36 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **69** 4/25/2011 144 163 30 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **70** 4/25/2011 152 167 33 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **71** 4/25/2011 128 148 20 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **72** 4/25/2011 169 193 43 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **73** 4/25/2011 139 163 27 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **74** 4/25/2011 142 164 29 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **75** 4/25/2011 173 195 44 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **76** 4/25/2011 179 201 56 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **77** 4/25/2011 176 203 54 Unknown Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **78** 4/25/2011 186 211 66 Unknown Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **79** 4/25/2011 187 210 62 Female Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **80** 4/25/2011 189 213 65 Female Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **81** 4/25/2011 150 169 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **82** 4/25/2011 154 182 38 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **83** 4/26/2011 176 201 53 Unknown Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **84** 4/26/2011 169 199 49 Unknown Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **85** 4/26/2011 172 198 54 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **86** 4/26/2011 145 163 28 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **87** 4/26/2011 178 198 46 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **88** 4/26/2011 150 168 32 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **89** 4/26/2011 137 157 Unknown No Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **90** 4/26/2011 140 162 31 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **91** 4/26/2011 142 161 31 Unknown No Stand Up

### Ju ne 2011 Progress Report
-NAI0NMF4720030 Page **22** of **32 Table 3 Continued**  **Fish ID Date**  **Fork Length**  **(cm )**  **Total Length**  **(cm )**  **Weight**

**(kg) Sex**  **Acoustic**

**Transmitter Recapture**  **Net Type DSU AS 2011**  **- 92**  4/26/2011 186 213 63 Unknown Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **93** 4/26/2011 182 204 63 Unknown Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011**  **- 100**  4/27/2011 115 130 14 Unknown Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **94** 4/27/2011 179 204 55 Unknown Yes Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **95** 4/27/2011 177 202 55 Female Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **96** 4/27/2011 145 168 30 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **97** 4/27/2011 165 189 48 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **98** 4/27/2011 143 162 29 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **99** 4/27/2011 168 190 48 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **101** 4/29/2011 150 170 32 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **102** 4/29/2011 182 205 56 Female Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **103** 4/29/2011 109 129 14 Unknown Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **104** 4/29/2011 133 155 24 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **105** 4/30/2011 130 147 23 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **106** 4/30/2011 109 129 14 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011**  **- 107**  4/30/2011 145 161 30 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **108** 5/1/2011 185 204 50 Unknown Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **109** 5/1/2011 137 158 23 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **110** 5/1/2011 160 177 41 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **111** 5/1/2011 128 147 17 Unknown Yes N/A **DSU AS 2011 -**  **112** 5/1/2011 128 150 20 Unknown No N/A **DSU AS 2011 -**  **113** 5/1/2011 107 125 12 Unknown Yes N/A **DSU AS 2011 -**  **114** 5/1/2011 125 142 14 Unknown Yes N/A **DSU AS 2011 -**  **115** 5/2/2011 192 213 66 Female Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011**  **- 116**  5/2/2011 165 189 44 Female Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **117** 5/2/2011 134 154 19 Unknown Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **118** 5/2/2011 162 182 36 Unknown Yes Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **119** 5/2/2011 131 149 19 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **120** 5/2/2011 205 221 68 Female Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **121** 5/2/2011 153 175 38 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **122** 5/2/2011 186 210 70 Female Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **123** 5/2/2011 169 190 40 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **124** 5/2/2011 126 145 17 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **125** 5/2/2011 173 195 48 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **126** 5/2/2011 126 149 17 Unknown Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **127** 5/2/2011 130 142 42 Unknown Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **128** 5/3/2011 123 139 16 Unknown Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011**  **- 129**  5/3/2011 180 203 55 Female Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **130** 5/3/2011 176 195 45 Unknown Yes Stand Up

### Ju ne 2011 Progress Report
-NAI0NMF4720030 Page **23** of **32 Table 3 Continued**  **Fish ID Date**  **Fork Length**  **(cm )**  **Total Length**  **(cm )**  **Weight**

**(kg) Sex**  **Acoustic**

**Transmitter Recapture**  **Net Type DSU AS**  **2011 -**  **131** 5/3/2011 148 170 30 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **132** 5/3/2011 170 191 46 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **133** 5/3/2011 195 218 72 Female Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **134** 5/3/2011 166 183 48 Unknown Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **135** 5/3/2011 160 184 37 Unknown Yes Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **136** 5/3/2011 150 172 32 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **137** 5/3/2011 167 190 40 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **138** 5/3/2011 140 165 27 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **139** 5/3/2011 169 186 45 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **140** 5/3/2011 155 180 41 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **141** 5/3/2011 164 190 42 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **142** 5/4/2011 155 180 38 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **143** 5/4/2011 154 177 40 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011**  **- 144**  5/4/2011 154 177 38 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **145** 5/4/2011 150 169 33 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **146** 5/4/2011 129 144 17 Unknown Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **147** 5/4/2011 129 130 19 Unknown Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **148** 5/4/2011 150 172 32 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **149** 5/4/2011 160 182 40 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **150** 5/4/2011 137 161 28 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **151** 5/4/2011 149 172 33 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **152** 5/5/2011 152 170 33 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **153** 5/5/2011 147 166 30 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **154** 5/5/2011 178 204 55 Unknown Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **155** 5/5/2011 138 157 25 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **156** 5/5/2011 172 196 43 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **157** 5/5/2011 172 194 55 Unknown Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **158** 5/5/2011 114 131 15 Unknown Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **159** 5/5/2011 115 133 16 Unknown Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **160** 5/5/2011 133 150 28 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **161** 5/5/2011 130 152 25 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **162** 5/5/2011 144 165 29 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **163** 5/5/2011 178 198 54 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **164** 5/6/2011 63 71 2 Unknown Yes N/A **DSU AS 2011 -**  **165** 5/6/2011 152 175 39 Unknown Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011**  **- 166**  5/6/2011 157 183 43 Unknown Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **167** 5/6/2011 158 175 45 Unknown Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **168** 5/6/2011 Unknown No Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **169** 5/6/2011 149 167 36 Unknown No Tie Down

### Ju ne 2011 Progress Report
-NAI0NMF4720030 Page **24** of **32 Table 3 Continued**  **Fish ID Date**  **Fork Length**  **(cm )**  **Total Length**  **(cm )**  **Weight**

**(kg) Sex**  **Acoustic**

**Transmitter Recapture**  **Net Type DSU AS 2011**  **- 170**  5/6/2011 157 181 36 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **171** 5/6/2011 149 169 33 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **172** 5/6/2011 170 194 50 Unknown Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **173** 5/7/2011 142 162 29 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **174** 5/7/2011 169 183 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **175** 5/7/2011 155 177 41 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **176** 5/7/2011 146 164 31 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011**  **- 177**  5/7/2011 143 161 31 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **178** 5/7/2011 157 174 Unknown No Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **179** 5/7/2011 182 206 54 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **180** 5/7/2011 135 155 26 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **181** 5/7/2011 170 191 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **182** 5/7/2011 137 156 30 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **183** 5/7/2011 189 219 60 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **184** 5/7/2011 170 196 58 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **185** 5/9/2011 158 178 45 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **186** 5/9/2011 170 186 56 Female Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **187** 5/9/2011 202 232 72 Unknown Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **188** 5/9/2011 170 189 50 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **189** 5/9/2011 125 145 18 Unknown Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **190** 5/9/2011 164 189 37 Unknown Yes Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **191** 5/9/2011 162 188 41 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **192** 5/9/2011 165 192 40 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **193** 5/9/2011 154 175 36 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **194** 5/9/2011 139 158 28 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **195** 5/9/2011 140 158 30 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **196** 5/10/2011 119 135 17 Unknown Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **197** 5/10/2011 186 218 68 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **198** 5/10/2011 160 186 45 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **199** 5/10/2011 170 195 50 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **200** 5/11/2011 128 142 16 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **201** 5/11/2011 111 127 10 Unknown Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **202** 5/11/2011 152 174 40 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011**  **- 203**  5/12/2011 172 195 51 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **204** 5/12/2011 142 162 27 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **205** 5/12/2011 161 180 42 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **206** 5/12/2011 198 221 71 Female Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **207** 5/12/2011 148 166 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **208** 5/12/2011 158 183 Unknown No Stand Up

### Ju ne 2011 Progress Report
-NAI0NMF4720030 Page **25** of **32 Table 3 Continued**  **Fish ID Date**  **Fork Length**  **(cm )**  **Total Length**  **(cm )**  **Weight**

**(kg) Sex**  **Acoustic**

**Transmitter Recapture**  **Net Type DSU AS 2011**  **- 209**  5/12/2011 156 178 36 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **210** 5/12/2011 141 159 30 Unknown No Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **211** 5/12/2011 135 153 22 Unknown Yes Tie Down **DSU AS 2011 -**  **212** 5/12/2011 133 150 22 Unknown Yes Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **213** 5/13/2011 165 189 45 Unknown No Stand Up **DSU AS 2011 -**  **214** 5/13/2011 158 183 38 Unknown No Tie Down 

### During this time period a total of 215 Atlantic sturgeon were landed over 27 sampling days and 101 gillnet sets. There were a total of 12 recapture events during sampling including two in
- season events with corresponding days at liberty of 0 (same day) and 1. An additional 10 Atlantic sturgeon were recaptured from other studies including five from the USFWS 1994 hatchery release experiment on the Hudson River. All Atlantic sturgeon were processed using standardized protocols (NOAA
-NMFS
- Damon
- Randall et al. 2010) which included PIT tagging, external tags, measurements, and collection of genetic samples. A total of 84 acoustic transmitters were implanted in a subsample of Atlantic sturge on collections including all of the USFWS Hudson River experimental individuals. Muscle tissue and parasite collections were made on subsamples of collected Atlantic sturgeon and were provided to collaborating researchers at the University of Maryland, University

of Prince Edward Island, and Virginia Commonwealth University . In an attempt to understand the impact of gillnet configuration on Atlantic sturgeon landings , gillnets with alternating panels were deplo yed which were either tied
down to mimic the monkfish fishery or standup (no tie downs). A total of 115 Atlantic sturgeon were landed in the tie
- down nets with 94 landed in the standup gear. During gillnet sampling activities for Atlantic sturgeon , a total of 7 sand tiger sharks were collected. The sand tiger sharks collected in non
- directed sampling ranged in size from 105
- 148 cm fork length and were smaller (mean 131 cm FL) than individuals previously collected in directed sampling efforts. With the exception of the first sand tiger shark encountered in Atlantic sturgeon sampling efforts , all were outfitted with long lived acoustic transmitters, an external M
dart tag, and a genetic sample was collected. All sand tiger sharks collected during DSU sampling activities were released alive following processing. Genetic Compositio n

### Ju ne 2011 Progress Report
-NAI0NMF4720030 Page **26** of **32** 

### The haploty

pe distributions were received for Atlantic sturgeon collected during directed sampling in 2009
- 2010 and were based on mitochondrial DNA from Ike Wirgin (NYU). Results from the nuclear DNA microsatellites assignments are still pending. Of the 109 samples, 89 were successfull y assigned to one of 12 specific haploty pes from eight different groupings representing varying regional composition of the haploty pes (Grunwald et al. 2007 ). Results of the assignments on remaining individuals are still pending. Haploty pes from the New York Bight distinct population segment (A5, B, B1, B2, C4 and C5) represent the highest number of the samples collected (38), followed b y haplotypes from the entire range of the spe cies (A) (24), and then haploty pes representing the region from the Delaware River to the southern extent of their range (C, N and N1) (21), (Grunwald et al. 2008). There were two samples that contained the haploty pe A5 which is unique to samples found in the Delaware River, 4 from the Hudson River (B1, B2, C4 and C5), four from the Hudson south (D), one from the Edisto River (P1) and one from the Savannah River (P8) (Grunwald et al. 2008). There was also one haploty

pe (A6) that had not been previously documented. Spawning Site Identification During the likely

period of the 2010 spawning season four adult Atlantic sturgeon from directed sampling efforts were detected in the Delaware River, two of these four were individuals that had also entered the Delaware River in 2009 (DSU1052433 and DSU1052442) while the remaining ones were tagged in 2010 (DSU1084954 and DSU1084965). Atlantic sturgeon # DSU1052433 (male, haplotype A5, Delaware specific,) entered the river on April 27 (15.2 o 

### C) and departed on May 19 (17.6 o 

### C), Atlantic sturgeon # DSU1052442 (male, haplotype B, Hudson and Delaware,) entered the river on May 7 (18.1 o 

### C) and departed on June 4 (23.8 o 

### C); both sturgeon were detected in the same areas as in 2009 (rkm 110
- 130). Atlantic sturgeon # DSU1084954, which has haploty pe A (range wide), entered the river on April 16 (15.8 o 

### C) and departed the next day ; visual inspection of the gonad revealed it to be a non
-ripe female. Atlantic sturgeon # DSU1084965, which also exhibited haploty pe A, entered the Delaware River on May 9 (18.0 o 

### C) and departed on June 6 (24.5 o 

### C); visual inspection of the gonad revealed it to be a male. This Atlantic sturgeon occupied a lower portion of the Delaware River than did the other two telemetered males and predominantl y used the area near New Castle, DE (rkm 100) although short (<20h) forays upriver to rkm 130 were recorded on three occasions. None of the four Atlantic sturgeon that were detected in the river during the spring of 2010 were detected

### Ju ne 2011 Progress Report
-NAI0NMF4720030 Page **27** of **32** 

### upstream of Marcus Hook, PA (rkm 130). Their movements were monitored via both passive and manual telemetry

in an attempt to ascertain if they were moving into areas similar to that of known spawning habitat in other rivers or areas previously identified as potential spawning areas i.e. high freshwater flows and hard bottom (Sommerfield and Madson 2003, and Simpson 2008). Utilizing the locations of the four telemetered Atlantic sturgeon in the Delaware River, attempts were made to co llect fertilized eggs on cobble/gravel substrates in the area just below Marcus Hook, PA (rkm 120
- 126). A total of 83 eggs mats were deployed overnight for a total of 1,826 egg - mat/hours, but no Atlantic sturgeon eggs were collected. In addition to the four telemetered Atlantic sturgeon from sampling efforts, one telemetered Atlantic sturgeon (# CT308) of mature size (156cm FL in 2008) collected in Long Island Sound was detected in the Delaware River in the spring of 2010. This Atlantic sturgeon entered the lower portion of the Delaware River on April 9 (14.0 o 

### C) and remained in the river until May 5 (16.2 o 

### C) when it rapidly departed and was detected again off the coast of MD, NJ and DE on May

11 and 12 (12.7 o 

### C). It then returned to the lower portion of the river on May 20 (17.6 o 

### C) where it remained until May 22 (18.6 o 

### C) and then made a gradual upriver movement for three days, ultimately reaching rkm 165 near Philadelphia, PA. Following this upriver excursion there was a generalized downriver movement of CT308 until it exited the De laware River on June 1(23.0 o 

### C). At the time this individual was in the Delaware River, information on the sex and size was not available, therefore little effort was directed toward tracking. Presentations 1) Association of Research Directors, Atlanta, GA April 10, 2011

“Marine Habitat Utilization and Movements of Atlantic sturgeon ( Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus ) along the Eastern Seaboard of the North America” . M. W. Breece*, Delaware State University; D. A. Fox, Delaware State University; T. Savo y, Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection; D. Erickson, University of Miami, Pew Institute for Ocean Science 2) Graduate Research S ymposium, Dover, DE April 15, 2011

“ Coastal Movements and Marine Habitat Utilization of Atlantic sturgeon ( Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus ) along the Eastern Seaboard of the North America. ” M. W.

### Ju ne 2011 Progress Report
-NAI0NMF4720030 Page **28** of **32** 

### Breece*, Delaware State University ; D. A. Fox, Delaware State University ; T. Savoy, Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection; D. Erickson, University of Miami, Pew Institute for Ocean Science Literature Cited: Damon
- Randall, K., R. Bohl, S. Bolden, D. Fox, C. Hager, B. Hickson, E. Hilton, J. Mohler, E. Robbins, T. Savoy, and A. Spells. 2010. Atlantic Sturgeon Research Techniques. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS
-NE
- 215. 74pp. Grunwald, C., L. Maceda, J. Waldman, J. Stabile, and I. Wirgin. 200 7 . Conservation of Atlantic sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus : delineation of stock structure and distinct population segments. Conservation Genetics DOI 10.1007/s10592
- 007
- 9420
- 1 Simpson, P.C. 2008. Movements and habitat use of Delaware River Atlantic Sturgeon. Masters Thesis. Delaware State University, Dover, Delaware. 137pp. Sommerfield, C.K. and J.A. Madsen. 2003. Sedimentological and geophys ical survey of the upper Delaware Estuary . Final Report to the Delaware River Basin Commission. 126p. Wi rgin, I., C. Grunwald, J. Stabile, and J. Wa ldman. 2007. Genetic evidence for relict Atlantic sturgeon stocks along the mid -Atlantic coast of the USA. N orth American Journal of Fisheries Management 27:1214 - 1229. Expenditures Salaries & Wages: $ 1,905.24 Benefits 716.58 Travel 101.44 Contractual 30,701.87 Supplies 81,365.21 $ 114,790.34 **6 -**  **Examination of shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon movements, habitat utilization and interaction in Connecticut waters.**  No field activity

was conducted on Project Segments 6 or 7 due to significant delays in processing paperwork, finalizing memoranda of agreements between partners , and internal processing within the State of Connecticut and within the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. The above problems did not allow any equipment to be acquired

### Ju ne 2011 Progress Report
-NAI0NMF4720030 Page **29** of **32** 

### prior to May

of 2 011 and no staff time charged to this project during the summer field season of Year 1. In summary, some equipment and supplies are available at the start of the 2011 summer field season and we should be able to accomplish required field activities in 201 1. Expenditures
 Equipment/Supplies $122,295

 Salaries/Fringe $2,500 Total=$ 124, 795 **7 -**  **Movements and habitat use of near -**  **shore environments in Connecticut waters by Atlantic sturgeon**  See summary for Objective 6 above
. **8 -**  **Development of remote sensed spatial models for sturgeons in the mid**  **- Atlantic region**  The University of Delaware’s task in ye ar 1 was to collect and organize real
- time satellite data from multiple platforms in the project study region. All significant water masses in the study region were mapped to assist with the analysis. Despite delayed receipt of funding, the University

was able to accomplish the goal of assembling the appropriate satellite data streams by leveraging funding from other projects. Appropriate computer equipment to assist tasks in the remaining years of the grant were als o purchased with non
- Section 6 project funds with the expectation of reimbursement once funds were received from the DNREC. Receipt of funds from DNREC was delayed in part due to the development and finalization of a contract agreement between the two par ties. The following project funds were spent to date:
 $1279.93 in Salary

and indirect costs
 Note: A balance of $2759.07 in Section 6 funds will be used to reimburse the cost of computer equipment purchased using other funds. **9 -**  **Atlantic Cooperative Telemetry Network:** 

### Ju ne 2011 Progress Report
-NAI0NMF4720030 Page **30** of **32** 

### Summary D elays in both the transfer of funds and in the higher process at DSU , hiring of the ACT Network Manager was not accomplished by the conclusion of this reporting period. An announcement for the ACT Network Manger was posted in January of 2010. Interviews for this position were held in the spring and an offer was made in earl y June, 2010. Lori Brown will be serving as the ACT Network Manager and has been making progress on developing the network database although this work took place outside this reporting period. Additionally, computers to support the ACT Network Manager were ordered in June although this was outside the reporting period of interest
. Three presentations on the ACT Network were made during this reporting period with the goal of placing ACT in a national framework. The first of these took place at the Sturgeon Recovery

Meeting in Alexandria, VA on February 8
- 9 th 

### , 2011. This was followed b y a presentation at the NOAA
- IOOS National Telemetry Planning Workshop in Santa Cruz, CA on March 2
- 4 th 

### , 2011 and the final presentation was given at a NOAA
- Chesapeake Bay Telemetry Planning Workshop held in Annapolis, MA on May 3 rd 

### , 2 011
. In December of 2010 a request for transmitter codes was sent b y Tom Savoy (CT
- DEP) to previous participants in the ACT Network. These data were compiled and sent to contributors in mid
- December and serve as the most recent ACT Network list of transmitter codes. In an effort to focus on getting the online database operational, a hold was put on the solicitation of additional codes by interested parties . The goal is to first make this online database accessible for participants in CT
- DE
-NJ , and once it has been fully tested , to expand it to sturgeon researchers along the coast and then the general biotelemetry community
. Presentations 1) NOAA
-NERO
- Sturgeon Workshop February 8, 2011

### Ju ne 2011 Progress Report
-NAI0NMF4720030 Page **31** of **32** 

### “ The Atlantic Cooperative Telemetry Network; collaborative efforts, current status, & future directions. ” L. M. Brown*, Delaware State University ; T. Savoy, Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection; J. P. Manderson, NOAA
-NMFS Sandy Hook, NJ,; and . D. A. Fox*, Delaware State Univ ersity
. 2) NOAA
- IO OS National Telemetry Network Workshop March 2, 2011

“Mid
- Atlantic Telemetry Efforts and the Atlantic Cooperative Telemetry Network. ” L. M. Brown, Delaware State University ; T. Savoy, Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection; J. P. Manderson, NOAA
-NMFS Sandy Hook, NJ,; and . D. A. Fox*, Delaware State University
. 3) NOAA Chesapeake Bay Telemetry

Planning Meeting May 3, 2 011
“Mid
- Atlantic Telemetry Efforts and the Atlantic Cooperative Telemetry Network. ” L. M. Brown, Delaware State University ; T. Savoy, Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection; J. P. Manderson, NOAA
-NMFS Sandy Hook, NJ,; and . D. A. Fox*, Delaware State University
. Literature Cited: Grunwald, C., L. Maceda, J. Waldman, J. Stabile, and I. Wirgin. 2008. Conservation of Atlantic sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus : delineation of stock structure and distinct population segments. Conservation Genetics DOI 10.1007/s10592
- 007
- 9420
- 1 Simpson, P.C. 2008. Movements and habitat use of Delaware River Atlantic Sturgeon. Masters Thesis. Delaware State University, Dover, Delaware. 137pp. Sommerfield, C.K. and J.A. Madsen. 2003. Sedimentological and geophys ical survey of the upper Delaware Estuary . Final Report to the Delaware River Basin Commission. 126p. Wi rgin, I., C. Grunwald, J. Stabile, and J. Wa ldman. 2007. Genetic evidence for relict Atlantic

### Ju ne 2011 Progress Report
-NAI0NMF4720030 Page **32** of **32** 

### sturgeon stocks along the mid -At lantic coast of the USA. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 27:1214 - 1229. **10 -**  **Education/Outreach:** An article on the sturgeon project entitled, “The Search for Sturgeon” was published in Outdoor Delaware in the spring of 2010 issue
. **11 -**  **Data Processing / Regulatory Information:** The NJDEP planned to incorporate occurrence information for shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon into the Endangered and Nongame Species Program’s Biotics database and Landscape Project. Since field work was not initi ated during the project period, occurrence data were not available for entry

into either Biotics or inclusion in the Landscape Project. Data processing activities will occur once results from field work are available. Information on shortnose sturgeon (and Atlantic, once the species is listed by either the state or NMFS) critical areas in the Delaware River, including spawning and nursery areas, will be available to such agencies as NJDEP’s Land Use Regulation Program (LUR).