Semi-Annual Progress Report

Section 6 Species Recovery Grants program

Award Number: NAI0NMF4720030

Award Period: 06/01/2010 - 05/31/2013

Report period: 06/01/2011 – 11/30/2011

Grant Title: “Sturgeons in the Mid-Atlantic Region: A Multi-State Collaboration of 

 Research and Conservation”

Grantee: Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control

 Division of Fish and Wildlife (DNREC-DFW)

Project Manager: Edna J. Stetzar, DNREC-DFW

 Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program

 4876 Hay Point Landing Rd, Smyrna, DE 19977

 Phone Number: (302) 735-8654

 Edna.Stetzar@state.de.us

Reported by:

Tom Savoy, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

Jeanette Bowers-Altman, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

Heather Corbett, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

Matthew Oliver, University of Delaware

John Madsen, University of Delaware

Dewayne Fox, Delaware 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 to https://grantsonline.rdc.noaa.gov by Carla Cassell-Carter on January 3, 2012

“This project was funded, in full or part, by a grant obtained through the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife 

with funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under the Species Recovery Grants

Program”.
December 2011 Progress Report-NAI0NMF4720030

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Summary

Progress has been made during the reporting period, but in some cases it is behind 

schedule due to initial funding delays which further compounded the ability to obtain timely state 

approvals. These delays have altered the anticipated sampling schedule especially objective 2:

identification and characterization of early life history habitat in the non-tidal Delaware River

and objective 3: distribution and habitat use of juvenile Atlantic sturgeon in New Jersey waters. 

In addition, federal funds for year two were reduced by 32% and anticipated progress on 

objectives had to be re-evaluated. Several conference calls and meetings between project 

partners and with our NOAA program officer were held to aid in determining how best to 

allocate the funds so that the most pertinent objectives could still be met. The project partners 

were able to reach a consensus fairly easy because of their collaborative spirit as well as a vested 

interest in the resource. Some reduction in sampling effort and supplies, and hiring of a graduate 

student in lieu of a post-doc for remote spatial data analysis, were the main changes to 

anticipated objectives. Despite the challenges, for the most part year 2 objectives are on track.

Project Goals and Objectives

1- Identification of shortnose sturgeon spawning sites and characterization of early life 

history habitats in the non-tidal Delaware River

The State of New Jersey will identify shortnose sturgeon spawning areas in the nontidal 

Delaware River, explore the upstream extent of spawning activities, and document early life 

history requirements. This work did not proceed as scheduled due to a delay in obtaining 

approvals for a Waiver of Advertising to contract ERC, Inc. to conduct the necessary field work. 

The Waiver of Advertising was approved in late October 2011 and a Purchase Order issued in 

early November 2011. 

Gillnetting to obtain adult shortnose sturgeon for acoustic tagging was conducted by 

ERC, Inc. in the upper tidal Delaware River on November 8, 14 and 15, 2011. A total of 138 

shortnose sturgeon were captured. Acoustic tags were surgically implanted in 30 individuals. 

These fish will be tracked using active and passive methods, with emphasis on documenting their 

locations in the non-tidal river during the spawning season. In addition to the purchase of 
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acoustic tags, ERC Inc. purchased three new VR2W receivers for placement in the non-tidal 

river. ERC, Inc. is now working on methods for deploying the receivers, which includes 

coordination with the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission on possible attachment of 

the receivers to their bridges. 

2- Distribution and habitat use of early stage juvenile Atlantic sturgeon in Delaware 

waters

Gillnetting commenced on August 30th, 2011 and continued until Nov. 1st, 2011 with 17 

days of sampling effort. Gillnetting effort occurred at 6 sites; Hamburg cove, New Castle, 

Cherry Island Flats, Marcus Hook anchorage, Tinicum Island, and Mifflin anchorage. These 

sites were identified as potential early stage juvenile habitat based on manual tracking results in 

2009-2010, Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) trawl survey capture locations, and a single 

report from a commercial fisherman of a young of the year captured in a crab trap. Sites 

downstream of past locations were considered this year because of extreme flooding pushing 

freshwater (and thus early stage juvenile habitat) well downstream of normal. Preliminary 

analyses suggest that Delaware River net annual flows at Trenton for 2011 will likely exceed all 

previous years on record (pers. comm. Erik Silldorf, DRBC). The Marcus Hook anchorage was 

the only site that produced early stage juvenile Atlantic sturgeon during the sampling survey. 

After the first young of the year was captured on September 30th, and low numbers (n=1) of age1 (2010 year class) were captured over 2 seasons, the remaining gillnetting effort (n=7 days) 

occurred at the Marcus Hook anchorage to focus on the most productive site for early stage 

juveniles. 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 were also captured during the season. Of the 52 individual sturgeon captured, 

26 were selected for implantation of transmitters (Table 1). The juvenile shortnose sturgeon was 

implanted with a transmitter to aid in efforts to accomplish objective 3 and will be included in 

the analysis for that objective. 

Various transmitter programming options were utilized to accomplish dual objectives of 

identifying habitat and seasonal movements with the battery life limitations of transmitters small 

enough to be implanted in early stage juveniles. Ten transmitters were programmed with short 

delays to enable efficient manual tracking for identifying habitat. Fifteen transmitters were 
December 2011 Progress Report-NAI0NMF4720030

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programmed with a longer delay to stretch battery life for identifying seasonal movements over 

1.2 years. Of those fifteen, 5 were larger V9 transmitters with a long delay that will last for 2.5 

years. Another transmitter (a large V16 implanted in a striped bass) was donated from another 

project when a recreational angler discovered the transmitter inside his filleted catch. The 

manufacturer (VEMCO) put the angler in touch with DFW and the transmitter was sent back to 

DFW with 6 years of battery life remaining. It was repurposed for this project.

Three young of the year sturgeon were recaptured and will be reported to the USFWS 

recapture database (Table 2). A recaptured individual’s PIT tag wound appeared as a small 

bump that had healed (Figure 1) after 14 days at large. Another recaptured individual’s surgical 

wound appeared red, oozing and sore after 14 days at large. This is a concern but expected so 

soon after surgery. The stitches were still intact so it is hoped this fish will make a complete 

recovery and after 2 months at large this fish remains (as most are) near its release site. The 

fish’s progress will be updated in the next report.

Manual Tracking

Tracking is ongoing from November 2011 until February 2012. Analysis will be in the 

next progress report. Initial results indicate a strong preference for the release site at Marcus 

Hook anchorage (rkm 130) with some emigration to the Mifflin anchorage area (rkm 145).

Passive Tracking

In a show of cooperative effort DSU maintained receivers will not be removed this winter 

in the upper tidal Delaware River to allow for better fine scale seasonal movement analysis of 

overwintering early stage juveniles. Ice flow will be monitored carefully over the winter and 

receivers will be retrieved if they are in danger and redeployed when the ice flows subside. 

Seasonal movement analysis will be included in the next progress report. 
December 2011 Progress Report-NAI0NMF4720030

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Table 1. Juvenile Atlantic sturgeon captured and implanted with transmitters by the Delaware Division of 

Fish and Wildlife in 2011.

release date species capture location total length fork length PIT tissue

Tag life 

(days) Transmitter ID

9/15/2011 SNS Marcus Hook Anchorage 525 448 985121014382529 yes 940 58626

9/16/2011 ATS Cherry Island flats 771 656 985121014382437 yes 2879 48147

9/19/2011 ATS Cherry Island flats 789 677 985121014382422 yes 145 1768

9/30/2011 ATS Marcus Hook Anchorage 595 524 985121014382411 yes 940 58625

9/30/2011 ATS Marcus Hook Anchorage 254 218 none yes 145 1766

10/3/2011 ATS Marcus Hook Anchorage 283 248 985121018567609 yes 145 1765

10/3/2011 ATS Marcus Hook Anchorage 257 223 985121018569035 yes 145 1771

10/3/2011 ATS Marcus Hook Anchorage 257 217 985121018605114 yes 145 1772

10/3/2011 ATS Marcus Hook Anchorage 255 219 985121018577438 yes 145 1773

10/17/2011 ATS Marcus Hook Anchorage 294 254 985121018561149 yes 145 1767

10/17/2011 ATS Marcus Hook Anchorage 307 264 985121018564951 yes 145 1769

10/17/2011 ATS Marcus Hook Anchorage 280 238 985121018562274 yes 145 1770

10/17/2011 ATS Marcus Hook Anchorage 321 274 985121018567314 yes 145 1774

10/17/2011 ATS Marcus Hook Anchorage 291 247 985121018563653 yes 420 2055

10/17/2011 ATS Marcus Hook Anchorage 303 265 985121018560778 yes 420 2056

10/17/2011 ATS Marcus Hook Anchorage 295 254 985121018560700 yes 420 2057

10/17/2011 ATS Marcus Hook Anchorage 296 252 985121018562920 yes 420 2058

10/18/2011 ATS Marcus Hook Anchorage 277 240 985121018552819 yes 420 2049

10/18/2011 ATS Marcus Hook Anchorage 278 245 985121018560144 yes 420 2050

10/18/2011 ATS Marcus Hook Anchorage 303 262 985121018556002 yes 420 2051

10/18/2011 ATS Marcus Hook Anchorage 297 256 985121018553544 yes 420 2052

10/18/2011 ATS Marcus Hook Anchorage 277 238 985121018550722 yes 420 2053

10/18/2011 ATS Marcus Hook Anchorage 283 248 985121018554977 yes 420 2054

10/28/2011 ATS Marcus Hook Anchorage 359 305 985121018550132 yes 940 58627

11/1/2011 ATS Marcus hook Anchorage 360 307 985121019120081 yes 940 58628

11/1/2011 ATS Marcus hook Anchorage 363 311 985121019077955 yes 940 58629
December 2011 Progress Report-NAI0NMF4720030

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Table 2. Atlantic sturgeon recaptured by the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife in 2011

during gill-net sampling efforts.

T-bar # Initial 

Capture

Date

Total 

Length 

at 

initial 

Capture

(mm)

Weight 

at 

initial 

Capture 

(grams)

Days 

at 

large

Recap 

Growth

(Total 

length 

in mm)

Recap 

Weight 

gain

(grams)

Comments

44193 10/3/2011 249 64 14 24 23 No transmitter. PIT wound was 

completely healed (Figure 1 below)

44190 10/3/2011 246 61 29 54 63 No transmitter. Received PIT upon 

recapture. Fish weight doubled.

45655 10/18/2011 283 93 14 10 12

Received transmitter. Surgery wound 

appeared red, oozing and sore (no pic 

available) but stitches holding.

Figure 1. Picture of a PIT tag and T-bar insertion wound from a recaptured Atlantic sturgeon 

young-of-year after 14 days at large. The PIT wound appeared as a healed over bump.
December 2011 Progress Report-NAI0NMF4720030

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Expenditures

Salary/fringe: $32,999.82

Travel: $78.29

Supplies: $15,722.41

Contractual: $2,056.56

TOTAL: $50,857.08

Acknowledgements

 The help in the field from Cathy, Zina, Sam, Lauren, Erin, Hal, Dewayne, Matt B., 

Kate, Edna and the volunteers too many to mention was most appreciated.

3- Distribution and habitat use of juvenile Atlantic sturgeon in New Jersey waters

The State of New Jersey will expand the existing telemetry receiver network by 

purchasing and deploying new VEMCO VR2 receivers in NJ waters of the Delaware Bay. Data 

from the receivers will be downloaded monthly from March through November. Funding was 

not appropriated through the New Jersey budgetary system in time to perform the project 

requirements during previous segments. During this segment, funding was made available to 

start the purchasing process. Eighteen VEMCO receivers and a laptop computer were purchased 

for $24,110.69 and $1,651.97 respectively. Justifications were approved for an additional $2,000 

to purchase equipment necessary to deploy and maintain the new receivers. We plan to purchase 

this equipment in January 2012, in anticipation of deploying the receivers in the spring of 2012. 

In addition, we will 1) upgrade, expand and maintain the current telemetry receiver network and 

2) collect, acoustically tag, and track early juvenile Atlantic and juvenile shortnose sturgeon to 

supplement the juvenile tracking performed in DE. This work did not proceed as scheduled due 

to a delay in obtaining approvals for a Waiver of Advertising to contract ERC, Inc. to conduct 

the necessary field work. The Waiver of Advertising was approved in late October 2011 and a 

Purchase Order issued in early November 2011. 

Expenditures

Supplies $25,762.66
December 2011 Progress Report-NAI0NMF4720030

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4- Hydroacoustic assessment of Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon habitat requirements in 

the Delaware River Estuary

During the reporting period, an Edgetech 4125-P (600-1600 kHz) side-scan sonar system 

which was purchased (May 6, 2011) near the close of the last reporting period was delivered 

(late July) to the University of Delaware. This high-resolution side-scan system, designed for 

“search-and-rescue”, is ideally adapted for the remote sensing of habitat utilization for both 

Atlantic and shortnose sturgeons. The system is capable of imaging sturgeon within the water 

column, as well as, bottom sediment distribution and bedforms. Due to the delay in receiving 

funding, followed by the delay in purchasing and delivery, the system was not able to be 

deployed during the summer field season. It is currently being field tested within the Delaware 

Bay and the Indian River Inlet and will be in use during the spring field season for sturgeon data 

collection which should coincide with the hiring of a post-doctoral associate at Delaware State 

University (DSU). Project investigators Dewayne Fox (DSU) and John Madsen (UD) have had 

discussions with Bartholomew Wilson (State of Delaware Coastal Programs, person in charge of 

the Delaware Bay Benthic Mapping Project) on the integration of benthic habitat mapping data 

that has been collected in the areas of interest with the hydroacoustic and side-scan sonar data. 

The data will be compiled and analyzed within a GIS-framework and exported for further 

visualization using Google Earth.

Expenditures:

Salary/fringe: $7,863.24

Equipment: $0.00

Travel: $0.00

Supplies: $0.00_____

TOTAL: $7,863.24

5- Spawning habitats and interbasin exchange rates of Atlantic sturgeon in the New York 

Bight DPS

Telemetry Array

The passive listening array deployed in the previous reporting period in the Delaware 

River (10), Delaware Bay (19), and off the coast of MD, DE and NJ (29) was maintained with an 
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additional 14 receivers deployed on independent moorings in the Delaware Bay (Figure 2). Also 

maintained were 13 receivers in the Hudson River and the New York Harbor to monitor for the 

presence of telemetered Atlantic sturgeon (Figure 3). The entire passive listening array in the 

Delaware Bay and off the coast of DE, MD, and NJ was removed on August 25th and redeployed 

on August 30th to prevent damage and loss from Hurricane Irene. On November 26th we began 

removing receivers in the Delaware Bay portion of the array in anticipation of winter and icing 

events. Receivers were removed from the Hudson River and NY Harbor on November 5-6

th

prior to the USCG replacement of ATONs which winter moorings. An examination of these 

receivers indicated all telemetered Atlantic sturgeon had departed the Hudson River by early 

October.

Atlantic Sturgeon Relocations

The passive listening array has once again proven very effective. Of the 75 transmitters 

implanted in the spring of 2011, 74 (98.6%) were relocated within the array. Additionally 

relocation events were high for transmitters implanted in previous years; 48 of 64 (75%) from 

2009, and 36 of 40 (90%) from 2010 (Table 3). 

Genetic Composition

The microsatellite (Tim King, USGS) and haplotype (Ike Wirgin, NYU) assignments 

were completed and received for Atlantic sturgeon (n= 105) collected during directed sampling 

in 2009-2010. A total of 57 (54.3%) Atlantic sturgeon were assigned to the NY Bight, 11 

(10.5%) of these received the River of Origin (ROO) assignment to the Delaware River and the 

remaining 46 (43.8%) ROO was assigned to the Hudson River (Table 4). The remaining 

individuals were assigned to other DPS units. 

Spawning Site Identification

During the probable period of spawning in 2011 six adult Atlantic sturgeon deemed 

likely in spawning condition (from directed sampling efforts) were detected in the Delaware 

River. Two of these six were individuals that had entered the Delaware River in 2009 and 2010 

(DSU1052433 and DSU1052442), one had entered the Delaware River in 2010 (DSU1084965) 

and the other 3 were tagged in 2010 (DSU1084956, DSU1084958, and DSU1084980) and were 
December 2011 Progress Report-NAI0NMF4720030

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not previously detected in the Delaware River (Table 5). Atlantic sturgeon # DSU1052433 

(male, ROO Delaware) entered the river on May 6 (15.9 oC) and departed on June 8 (23.1 oC), 

Atlantic sturgeon # DSU1052442 (male, ROO Delaware) entered the river on May 5 (16.2 oC) 

and departed on June 3 (22.3 oC); both sturgeon were detected in the same areas as in 2009 and 

2010 entering as far upstream as river kilometer (rkm) 135 and 122 respectively (Figure 4). 

Atlantic sturgeon # DSU1084965 (male, ROO James), entered the river on May 13 (17.2 oC) and 

departed on May 30 (21.0 oC) reaching a maximum upstream extent of rkm 190. Atlantic 

sturgeon # DSU1084956 (male, ROO Kennebec), entered the Delaware River on May 8 (15.8 

oC) and departed on June 8 (23.1 oC) reaching a maximum upstream extent of rkm 201. Two 

females with ROO being the Delaware were detected in the Delaware River in 2011 both of 

these females had gonads with mid-vitellogenic ovarian follicles at time of capture in 2010 and 

were likely in spawning condition in 2011 (Joel Van Eenennaam personal communication). 

While these individuals did not go upstream as far as two of the males, they did occupy areas 

deemed to have suitable habitat, i.e. flowing freshwater and hard bottom substrate (Sommerfield 

and Madsen 2003, and Simpson 2008). Atlantic sturgeon # DSU 1084958 entered the river on 

May 7 (15.9 oC) and remained in the river for 9 days before leaving on May 18 (18.1 oC) 

traveling as far upstream as rkm 135. When captured in 2010 this female was 196cm FL and 

weighed 79 kg. Atlantic sturgeon # 108490 went slightly further upstream (rkm 148) and 

remained in the river for a much longer period of time, entering the river on May 21 (18.4 oC) 

and remained in the river until July 30 (28.9 oC). This female was 206cm FL and weighed 84kg 

in 2010. 

The movements of all six adult Atlantic sturgeon 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 Madsen 2003, and Simpson 

2008). Utilizing the locations of these individuals, attempts were made to collect fertilized eggs 

on cobble/gravel substrates in two areas in the Delaware River (Figure 5). The first area is a 

section of the river between Tinicum Island and Marcus Hook, PA (rkm 120-150). The second 

area is much further upriver between the northern edge of the city of Philadelphia and 

Burlington, NJ (rkm 170-190). We deployed 248 eggs mats for 2 days each for a total of 

approximately 12,000 egg-mat/hours, but no Atlantic sturgeon eggs were collected.
December 2011 Progress Report-NAI0NMF4720030

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Literature Cited:

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 geophysical survey of the 

upper Delaware Estuary. Final Report to the Delaware River Basin Commission. 126p. 

Presentations:

Breece, M. W., P.C. Simpson and D. A. Fox. 2011. Coping with progress, Atlantic sturgeon 

spawning characteristics and locations in the Delaware River. Mid-Atlantic Chapter of 

the American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting. Barnegat, NJ.

Breece, M. W., T. F. Savoy and D. A. Fox. 2011. Factors Influencing the Coastal Movements 

of Atlantic Sturgeon in the Mid-Atlantic and Along the Eastern Seaboard of North 

America. Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society. Seattle, WA. 

Breece, M. W., P.C. Simpson and D. A. Fox 2011. Shifting Environments, Shifting Habitats, 

Atlantic Sturgeon Spawning Characteristics and Locations in the Delaware River. World 

Sturgeon Conservation Society: North American Chapter Annual Meeting. Nanaimo, BC. 

Table 3. Number of transmitters detected by region of the passive listening array by year of 

transmitter deployment. 

Year Telemetered

Region of the 

array 2009 (64) 2010 (40) 2011 (75) Total (179)

Coastal 48 36 74 158

Delaware Bay 39 32 60 131

Delaware River 4 6 6 16

Hudson River 18 12 15 45

Table 4. Proportion of Atlantic sturgeon captured in 2009 and 2010 from directed sampling 

efforts in the Atlantic Ocean assigned to the New York Bight as well as the Delaware and 

Hudson River determined from nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. 

N = 105 mtDNA nDNA nDNA + mtDNA

NY Bight 42 (40%) 52(49.5%) 57 (54.3%)

Delaware 4 (3.8%) 11 (10.5%) 11 (10.5%)

Hudson 39 (37.1%) 46 (43.8%) 46 (43.8) 
December 2011 Progress Report-NAI0NMF4720030

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Table 5. River of Origin (ROO), Sex, Arrival, Departure and Maximum upstream extent (rkm) 

for each Atlantic sturgeon in probable spawning condition that entered the Delaware River in 

2011. 

Atlantic 

sturgeon 

ID ROO Sex 

Arrival Departure

Maximum 

Date rkm

Temperature 

(°C) Date

Temperature 

(°C)

1052433 Delaware Male 6-May 15.9 8-Jun 23.1 135

1052442 Delaware Male 5-May 16.2 3-Jun 22.3 122

1084965 James Male 

13-

May 17.2 30-May 21 190

1084956 Kennebec Male 8-May 15.8 8-Jun 23.1 201

1084958 Delaware Female 7-May 15.9 18-May 18.1 135

1084980 Delaware Female

21-

May 18.4 30-Jul 28.9 148
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Figure 2. Location of acoustic receivers in the Delaware River, Delaware Bay and along the 

Atlantic coast of Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey. 
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Figure 3. Location of acoustic receivers in the Hudson River and New York Harbor. 
December 2011 Progress Report-NAI0NMF4720030

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Figure 4. Individual adult Atlantic sturgeon locations by river kilometer for the likely period of 

spawning for 2011. 
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Figure 5. Location of artificial substrate sampling sites for the likely period of spawning in 

2011. 
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Expenditures

Salaries/Wages: $24,457.97

Benefits: $7,763.75

Travel: $166.72

Contractual: $887.34

Indirect Cost: $8,113.22

Supplies: $1,271.96___

TOTAL: $42,660.96

6- Examination of shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon movements, habitat utilization and 

interaction in Connecticut waters.

A total of 134 Atlantic sturgeon and 122 shortnose sturgeon were collected during this 

project segment. 178 gill net sets and 38 trawls were made on 53 days from June 1 through 

October 25. Netting efforts to collect sturgeon were unsuccessful after September. All sturgeon 

collected were examined, and processed. Processing included: collection of meristic 

measurements, examination for previous tags including external (t-bar, carlin and telemetry 

transmitters) and internal tags (both PIT tags and telemetry transmitters). Untagged sturgeon that 

had not been previously marked received 2 external t-bar tags and a Pit tag implanted near the 

dorsal fin. A smaller subset of both shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon were reserved for surgical 

implantation of an ultrasonic transmitter. All shortnose sturgeon collected were captured within 

the Connecticut River. Twenty five of the 122 shortnose sturgeon collected had an ultrasonic 

transmitter surgically implanted. Three different variations of transmitter were utilized. Of the 

25 shortnose sturgeon telemetered, seven transmitters were coded tags, eight were temperature 

sensing and 8 were pressure sensing (depth). We were not successful in implanting 25 ultrasonic 

transmitters in Altantic sturgeon owing to a couple of logistical factors, mainly low catch rates 

during the cooler water period. Seventeen transmitters were implanted, four transmitters were 

coded tags, two were temperature sensing and 11 were pressure sensing (depth). Approximately 

one third (43/134) of the Atlantic sturgeon captured were collected within the Connecticut River. 

Atlantic sturgeon collected in the River (mean FL = 75.4 cm, range 53.5 to 115.5 cm Fl, 4.2 kg) 

were significantly smaller than those collected in Long Island Sound (mean FL = 116.4 cm, 

range 65.0 to 177.0 cm Fl, 14.6 kg).
December 2011 Progress Report-NAI0NMF4720030

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The acoustic telemetry array in the Connecticut River of 20 VEMCO VR2W receivers 

was deployed from the end of April 2011 through the end of the segment and will remain in the 

water over the winter. Receivers in the river covered from near the mouth (approximate rkm 1.0) 

to just below the Connecticut/Massachusetts State Line (rkm = 112). Preliminary analyses 

suggest good numbers of detections of tagged sturgeon were obtained from some locations. 

Ongoing data collection over the course of a year will indicate if receiver locations need to be 

altered. We will increase the in-river array by additional receivers if losses continue to be 

moderate (2 receivers were lost associated with high river flows from Tropical Storm Irene). 

Supplies and Equipment budget: 

VEMCO acoustic receivers, ultrasonic transmitters (3 types including coded tags, 

temperature and depth sensing transmitters) and associated receiver mooring supplies were all 

obtained in time to be deployed for the 2011 summer field season. We were unable to upgrade 

our older VR2’s for newer VR2W’s with appropriate code maps in time to re-deploy during this 

field season because of internal CT DEEP practices. Hopefully this upgrade will be conducted in 

the near future resulting in the addition of 12 useable acoustic receivers. 

7- Movements and habitat use of near-shore environments in Connecticut waters by 

Atlantic sturgeon

As described in job 6 (above), 134 Atlantic sturgeon were captured during this segment. 

All fish collections took place in areas not subject to the Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Plan 

(HPTRP). Aggregating both catch and effort on a gross scale demonstrates grossly uneven 

collections of fish in Long Island Sound (LIS) (91 Atlantic sturgeon) versus the Connecticut 

River (CTR) (43 Atlantic sturgeon) despite almost equal levels of gill netting effort (88 sets in 

LIS vs. 91 sets in CTR). Within LIS, catch was further un-equally divided between the two 

known major concentration areas. The area around the mouth of the Connecticut River only 

accounted for 13 sturgeon versus 78 sturgeon collected from the LIs central basin area with 

more than double the netting effort (mouth area 64 nets vs. Central basin area 24 nets). Atlantic 

sturgeon were very non-randomly distributed spatially and temporally. Number of fish 

collected increased from June through August leading to hopes of high catches in September 
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which usually had the highest collections in previous study efforts (CT DEEP unpublished). 

Unfortunately, only a single sturgeon was collected in September and none after that. 

Typically, Atlantic sturgeon can be collected in Connecticut waters until October or November 

and telemetry data confirms the continued presence of Atlantic sturgeon until that time. 

Decrease in numbers of fish collected in 2011 was strongly correlated with passage of Tropical 

Storm Irene over Long Island Sound and through Connecticut and up into New England. 

Rainfall from this storm dumped an unprecedented volume of water into the Connecticut River 

and also flushed tons of sediment out into Long Island Sound. 

The acoustic telemetry array in Long Island Sound of 25 VEMCO VR2W receivers was 

deployed from the end of April 2011 through the end of the segment. All receivers will be 

removed from the water in early to mid-December, weather conditions permitting. Receivers 

were deployed from near Falkner Island in the Central Sound area to off new London in the 

eastern end. Additional receivers will be deployed to collect additional information and provide 

more complete coverage of LIS; however attrition losses in LIS remain high. No receivers were 

lost as a direct result of Tropical Storm Irene, but several receivers were displaced several 

kilometers as a result of high river outflows. 

Preliminary analyses documented detections of tagged sturgeon from most locations. 

Some receivers only collected a few detections of Connecticut tagged Atlantic sturgeon but 

provided important timing or spatial information such as when fish entered or left Long Island 

Sound. Other receivers in high use areas documented daily activity over long time periods. 

Movement patterns of individual fish will be compared with others and correlated with 

environmental variables to the extent possible. 

Expenditures (Objective 7 and 8):

Salaries/Fringe $34,589.50

Supplies $94, 645.03

Contractural $589.75____

TOTAL $129,824.28

8- Development of remote sensed spatial models for sturgeons in the mid-Atlantic region
December 2011 Progress Report-NAI0NMF4720030

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The University of Delaware’s task during this reporting period was to collect and 

organize real-time satellite data from multiple platforms in the project study region. The online 

data repository for this analysis is a THREDDS server1for sea surface temperatures at the 

following two links: http://tds.maracoos.org/thredds/SST.html and 

http://tds.maracoos.org/thredds/MODIS.html. 

The data can be visualized by going to the following link: 

(http://orb.ceoe.udel.edu/public-access). 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 also 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 

parties. Also, because of the 32% reduction in federal funds for year 2, we have shifted work 

from a Post-Doc to a graduate student. This graduate student has been identified, and will be 

starting work on the project in February 2012. At the moment, we expect our year 2 goals to be 

on track.

Expenditures to date: 

Salary/Indirect & Computing Equipment $4039.00 

9- Atlantic Cooperative Telemetry Network:

Results and Discussion: 

Lori Brown was hired as the ACT Network manager in June 2011. She has been 

communicating with US and Canadian based researchers regarding the process of maintaining 

the existing frame work while developing and moving towards a different system of data sharing. 

 

1 The THREDDS Data Server (TDS) is a web server that provides metadata and data access for scientific datasets, 

using OPeNDAP, OGC WMS and WCS, HTTP, and other remote data access protocols. The TDS is developed and 

supported by Unidata, a division of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), and is sponsored 

by the National Science Foundation.
December 2011 Progress Report-NAI0NMF4720030

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Efforts have been made to streamline the existing methods and provide an updated more readily 

available tag list. The previous methods involved receiving individual transmitter information 

from researchers and incorporating that information into a spreadsheet that is coast-wide. While 

this method worked, it was far from ideal. As new collaborators got involved the list had to be 

updated and sent out to everyone (over 60 individuals) multiple times, so researchers were not 

always working with the most up-to-date lists when looking at their data. Also, there were many 

issues with standardizing and formatting submitted information between researchers; making 

queries and searches challenging.

In an attempt to remedy this, Lori has been working to standardize the existing 

transmitter master list as well as develop a new transmitter update sheet that will allow 

researchers to easily provide new transmitter codes that need to be appended to the master 

transmitter list. The transmitter master list is now being stored as a GoogleDoc which can be 

accessed by any collaborator through the following web-link:

(https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Aj6Cuknn68JXdG5aWVJDbmFmMHNkNGJV

QkdKQVpnSkE). Utilizing cloud storage allows researchers to access the most up-to-date 

version of the document when analyzing their data. The new transmitter code update sheet has 

been standardized and sent to all researchers involved in the ACT Network so they can provide 

this past season’s transmitter codes. In order to resolve some of the standardization issues, drop 

down menus, look-up functions, and calculation functions have been implemented to reduce the 

potential error that may occur with adding transmitter information (Figure 6). This is currently

being maintained in Microsoft Excel as researchers are most familiar/comfortable with the Excel 

format. Some researchers are interested in the sharing capabilities of GoogleDocs so the 

following has been provided as a web-based option:

(https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Aj6Cuknn68JXdHRvanJfbEgzVHNZUXR3Rm

Fma3R6N0E&authkey=CLSJ6PsD) 

Lori has also been working directly with the researchers in the Delaware area to 

standardize VEMCO receiver information for ease of sharing telemetry data. A working list of 

all receivers in Delaware River, Bay and coastal waters was developed. This working list 

includes US Coast Guard Light List number if the receiver is placed on an Aid to Navigation, 

Station Name (buoy number/general name), general location (river, bay, or coast), geospatial 
December 2011 Progress Report-NAI0NMF4720030

Page 22 of 24

reference (latitude/longitude), owner, receiver number, and river km if the receiver is in the 

Bay/River. The Station Names and geospatial references are also associated in VUE (the 

VEMCO database software) so as receivers are downloaded, the receiver information can be 

directly associated with the appropriate location information. Because some old VEMCO 

technology (VR2 receivers) is still being used in some regions of the river, it is necessary to 

associate the location information post-download. Likewise, some of the current VEMCO 

receivers (VR2W receivers) are deployed without initializing the location information for 

various reasons, and the data files must be edited prior to adding to the standardized VUE 

database. To ease this process, efforts have been made to develop methods of sharing including 

sharing files online through Dropbox (a cloud-based storage site) and GoogleDocs. This has 

allowed all involved researchers to access the corrected and accurate raw files, allowing them to 

develop their own databases for processing data in a manner that suits them. Developing these 

standards is key in the future direction of ACT. Working at the local level and developing 

sharing methods will aid in determining what will work on the Network-wide level. Based on 

existing sharing methods and discussions about the direction collaborators are interested in 

going, a survey will be developed and sent out to all of the current collaborators in order to see 

what can and cannot be agreed upon. Because it is such a large group and researchers are spread 

out along the length of the coast, logistically this seems to be the best starting point. Lori has 

been in contact with John Kocik (NOAA-NMFS Maine Field Office) who has developed a 

telemetry database for the Gulf of Maine region. Other telemetry data sharing Networks (e.g. 

POST, TOPP, and OTN) are being examined as work continues to achieve the goal of an online 

secure telemetry exchange network. 
December 2011 Progress Report-NAI0NMF4720030

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Figure 6. Example of Transmitter Code Update Sheet. Information requests have been 

standardized and simplified in order to reduce errors and ease the data sharing process. Note 

functions and drop down menus embedded in the sheet. 

10- Education/Outreach: 

Benyo, M. A. 2011. The Sturgeon General: researcher Dewayne Fox tracks a great fish once 

plentiful in local waters. Delaware Beach Life. August 2011; pp. 38-45.

Stutz, B. 2011. Mysterious and Imperiled Creature of the Deep. Onearth: a survival guide for 

the planet published by the Natural Resources Defense Council. Winter 2011-2012: pp.

42-47.

11- Data Processing / Regulatory Information: 
December 2011 Progress Report-NAI0NMF4720030

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The State Of New Jersey will incorporate occurrence information for shortnose and 

Atlantic sturgeon into the Endangered and Nongame Species Program’s Biotics database and 

Landscape Project. Information on shortnose sturgeon (and Atlantic sturgeon once the species is 

listed either by the state or by the 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). Since field work initiated late in 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.