Semi-Annual Progress Report

Section 6 Species Recovery Grants program

Award Number: NAI0NMF4720030

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

Report period: 06/01/2012 – 11/30/2012

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 Shelley Dibona

“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 2012 Progress Report-NAI0NMF4720030

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Introduction

This project was initially proposed and awarded as a 3-year project. Due to initial delays 

in state approvals the distribution of funds, and thus fulfillment of some objectives, was behind 

schedule in the first year. Federal funding was reduced by 32% in the second year of the project 

and again reduced by 75.64% in the third year. These budget cuts necessitated the amendment of 

state approvals, MOAs and contracts causing further delays. In order to meet the most pertinent 

objectives a no-cost extension will be requested in the coming months. Despite these challenges, 

the partners on this project continue to collect data that can be used by state resource managers 

and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for protection and management of shortnose 

and Atlantic sturgeon in the region. 

Progress on 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 objective of this job is to further define the spawning area for shortnose sturgeon in 

the Delaware River, with emphasis on the area upriver of Scudders Falls, through tracking of 

acoustically tagged adults during the spawning season and sampling for eggs and larvae.

Processing of the D-frame net samples collected during March 27-May 9, 2012 was 

completed. A total of 31 shortnose sturgeon eggs and 2 larvae were collected. Of the eggs, 30 

were collected at the Lambertville rapids transect and one was taken at the Fife & Drum transect. 

Both larvae were collected at the Fife & Drum transect (Figure 1). No shortnose sturgeon early 

life stages were collected at the Lambertville pool or Lumberville transects. Collection locations 

for the early life stages are consistent with observations of adults and detections of acoustically 

tagged shortnose sturgeon. This information confirms that shortnose sturgeon are spawning at 

least as far upriver as the Lambertville rapids.
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Figure 1. A shortnose sturgeon larvae (16 mm TL) collected at the Fife & Drum Transect, April 18, 2012

Summary of Expenditures

(Note: the figures below include all expenditures made by NJ DEP for Objective 1, 2, and 11 

combined during the reporting period)

• Salary $6,373.65

• Contract (Research Vessel) $66,000.00

• Equipment $28.89

 TOTAL: $72,401.94

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

waters

Gillnetting commenced on October 22, 2012 and continued until November 20, 2011 

with 8 days of sampling effort. Gillnetting effort occurred at 2 sites; Carney’s Point and Marcus 

Hook anchorage. Due to budget constraints gillnetting effort was reduced and the time period 

and locations selected were based on success in past years. The Marcus Hook anchorage site 

was the only site that produced early stage juvenile Atlantic sturgeon during the sampling 
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survey. One young of the year Atlantic sturgeon was captured but did not meet the 2% of body 

weight restriction for the available transmitters. Two additional juvenile Atlantic sturgeon and 

one juvenile shortnose sturgeon were also captured during the season. Of the 4 individual 

sturgeon captured, 3 were implanted with 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. 

Table 1. Juvenile Atlantic sturgeon captured in 2012 by the Delaware Division of Fish and 

Wildlife and implanted with transmitters.

Release

Date *Species

Capture 

Location

Total 

Length

(mm)

Fork 

length

(mm) PIT TAG No. Tissue

Tag 

Life 

(days)

Transmitter 

ID No.

11-19-2012 SNS

Marcus Hook 

Anchorage 480 405 985121014382241 yes 933 29699

11-20-2012 ATS

Marcus Hook 

Anchorage 262 228 985121018602377 yes 933

11-20-2012 ATS

Marcus Hook 

Anchorage 549 478 985121014382173 yes 933 29700

11-20-2012 ATS

Marcus Hook 

Anchorage 569 487 985121014381957 yes 933 29701

*SNS=Shortnose sturgeon; ATS=Atlantic sturgeon

Due to the elimination of our manual tracking objective in this segment, short delay 

transmitters were not necessary so only longer delay transmitters with extended life (933 days) 

were utilized. Sturgeon recaptures from this segment will be reported in the final report.

Manual Tracking

The manual tracking objective was eliminated in this segment due to budget cuts.

Passive Tracking

In a show of cooperative effort Delaware State University (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 final report. 
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Chesapeake and Delaware Canal analysis examining movement between the 2 systems for 

shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon from 2012 will also be included in the final report. 

Expenditures

• Salary/fringe: $16,031.41

• Supplies: $3,159.46

• *Contractual: $1,391.51

 TOTAL: $20,582.38

(* Contractual expenditures include expenditures made by DNREC-DFW for this objective 

during this reporting period. Because DNREC-DFW is the lead agency on this project, total 

overall contractual expenditures can also include funds paid out to project partners in the State 

of Connecticut, State of New Jersey and University of Delaware. Due to another reduction in 

federal funds and subsequent need to amend MOAs and contracts which includes a lengthy 

approval process, no funds were paid out to partners this reporting period).

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

The State of New Jersey expanded the existing telemetry receiver network by purchasing 

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

receivers was downloaded monthly from March through November and will continue in 2013.

Funding was not appropriated through the New Jersey budgetary system in time to 

perform the project requirements as scheduled so we are currently working in Year One of the 

project. All equipment necessary to assemble and deploy the receivers was not purchased until 

January 2012.

A total of 18 receivers were deployed by May 7, 2012. Data from the receivers were 

downloaded on the following dates: May 16, July 19, August 30, September 27, and October 

24, 2012. Fifteen receivers were pulled from the water on November 15. Several attempts were 

made to find three receivers that are still missing. All coordinates and downloaded data were 

sent to Lori Brown for the ACT Network database. We plan to deploy the receivers in March

2013 for Year Two of the project requirements. Maintenance and downloading of all Delaware 

River VR2W receivers deployed by ERC Inc. in spring 2012 continued during the reporting 

period.
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Collection and acoustic tagging of juvenile sturgeon was performed during late May-mid 

June and late September-late November 2012. The focus of this work was tagging early juvenile 

(pre-migratory) Atlantic sturgeon and juvenile shortnose sturgeon. Sampling periods were 

subject to the water temperature conditions appearing on the Federal scientific collection permits 

issued to ERC, Inc. Fourteen juvenile Atlantic sturgeon, of which five were acoustically tagged, 

were taken during the spring. In the fall, eight juvenile Atlantic sturgeon, of which three were 

acoustically tagged, and one shortnose sturgeon, also acoustically tagged, were collected. At 

least one of the Atlantic sturgeon tagged in the fall (334 mm FL, 387 mm TL) is thought to be of 

the 2012 year class, confirming at least some spawning success in 2012. 

Not all of the planned acoustic tags were deployed in the fall. Gill netting catch per 

effort in the Marcus Hook anchorage aggregation area, a typically productive sampling location, 

was considerably less than usual. It is believed that noise and physical disturbance from

maintenance dredging in the navigation channel adjacent to the Marcus Hook anchorage caused 

the sturgeon to disperse from the area. A rapid decline in water temperature after Hurricane 

Sandy may also have been a factor in this apparent dispersal. Sampling in other areas based on 

detections of previously tagged Atlantic sturgeon was not successful.

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

the Delaware River Estuary

During the first month of the reporting period, the Edgetech 4125-P (600-1600 kHz) sidescan sonar system was deployed in the Delaware River between Tinicum Island (in the vicinity 

of the Philadelphia International Airport) and Marcus Hook, PA. The system was able to 

characterize bottom sedimentary environments and imaged several Atlantic sturgeons. Later in 

the month, the system was deployed in the Hudson River north of Poughkeepsie, NY in 

conjunction with a tagging and sampling survey that was being conducted by the Fisheries 

Bureau of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Side-scan sonar data 

were collected in areas including where the Fisheries Bureau had deployed nets to sample for 

sturgeon. This region also had numerous telemetered adult Atlantic sturgeon tagged off the coast 

of Delaware as part of the interbasin exchange component of this project. As shown in the 

example figure below, excellent images of Atlantic sturgeon were obtained (Figure 2). 
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Figure 2. Side-scan sonar image of Atlantic sturgeon. Hudson River survey June 21, 2012.

Images of sturgeon obtained during the Hudson River survey were used as examples in a 

poster presentation entitled “Hydroacoustic Assessment of Habitat Utilization for Sturgeon in the 

Delaware River” that was presented by Delaware State University graduate student, Amy Comer, 

at the Mid-Atlantic American Fisheries Society meeting held on November 1st and 2nd, 2012. 

Ms. Comer was hired on this project grant starting in early August.

As planned in November during the period of this report and carried out in early 

December just after the closing period, a side-scan sonar survey was conducted within the upper 

Delaware River near Trenton NJ. The survey was primarily conducted along the center of the 

river within the main shipping channel. For optimal data collection, the side-scan was collected 

using the high frequency mode (1600 kHz). The tow speed was approximately 3.5 knots (6.482 

km/h). With the towfish at roughly 5 m off the river bed, the swath width of usable side-scan 

data was on the order of 60 m. 

Simultaneously while collecting side-scan images, telemetry data and physical water 

characteristic data were recorded. A VEMCO VR-100 ultrasonic receiver equipped with an 

omni-directional hydrophone was deployed and secured roughly 1 m below the water’s surface. 

The hydrophone was utilized as a tool to detect telemetered sturgeon. When detected, an 

individual tag code, GPS location, time, and the signal strength were recorded. In addition, a 
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handheld YSI model 85 was deployed and secured roughly 1 m below the water’s surface and 

conductivity, salinity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen readings were recorded three times 

during the approximately four hour survey. 

During the survey, side-scan sonar targets indicative of near-bottom dwelling fish were 

recorded (Figures 3 and 4). In particular off the PSEG Duck Island Power Plant near Trenton, 

NJ, we preliminarily interpret an aggregation, or cluster, of targets to be primarily shortnose 

sturgeons (Figure 4). We cautiously identify this aggregation as such due to the following 

factors: 1) telemetry data indicated one tagged shortnose sturgeon (tag ID 55380) was within the 

aggregation, 2) the side-scan target characteristics (e.g., length, shape, and shadow) were 

consistent with shortnose sturgeons, and 3) shortnose sturgeons are known to form dense 

aggregations seasonally, and while overwintering (Secor and Woodland 2005). These 

preliminary results suggest the importance of this area in terms of sturgeon habitat within the 

Delaware River. Further analysis and interpretation of the data that we have collected will be 

carried out during the next period of the project. At this stage, our reported results are 

preliminary.

Figure 3. Examples of fish targets imaged during Delaware River – Trenton survey. Based upon 

analysis of telemetry data, target characteristics (i.e., length, shape, associated shadow), and fish 

characteristics (i.e., orientation relative to current, presence near bottom, size, and shape) these 

targets are inferred to be potential shortnose sturgeon. This interpretation is preliminary.
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Figure 4. Side-scan sonar image of aggregation of side-scan sonar targets off the PSEG Duck Island 

Power Plant along the Delaware River near Trenton, NJ. Our preliminary interpretation is that the targets 

are associated with shortnose sturgeon.

Reference

Secor, D. H., & Woodland, R. J. (2005). Recovery and status of shortnose sturgeon in the 

Hudson River. (Doctoral dissertation). University of Delaware Budget Expenditures 

Summary of Expenditures

• Salary/fringe: $2,498.25

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 (36), and off the coast of MD, DE and NJ (45) was maintained (Figure 

5). Additionally, a gate consisting of 9 receivers was deployed on independent moorings from 1-

16km from shore in the Atlantic Ocean near Chincoteague, VA on September 28 (Figure 5). The 
December 2012 Progress Report-NAI0NMF4720030

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series of 13 receivers in the Hudson River and the New York Harbor to monitor for the presence 

of telemetered Atlantic sturgeon was expanded to 23 and supplements an additional 19 receivers 

maintained by NYDEC and SUNY (Figure 5). Prior to Hurricane Sandy 16 receivers on 

independent moorings along the Delaware Coast were removed to prevent damage. The entirety 

of the remaining array was left out during the super storm and as a result two of the 74 receivers 

were lost during this event. 

Delaware River Spawning Site Identification

During the likely period of spawning in 2012 six adult Atlantic sturgeon from directed 

sampling efforts were detected in the Delaware River, two of these six were individuals that had 

entered the Delaware River in 2009, 2010, and 2011 (DSU1052433 and DSU1052442), the other 

4 were tagged in 2012 (DSU1122465, DSU1122466, DSU1122488, and DSU1122493). River 

of Origin (ROO) has been determined for all individuals captured during the 2009 and 2010 

sampling seasons, while the ROO for Atlantic sturgeon captured in 2011 and 2012 has yet to be 

determined. Adult Atlantic sturgeon entered the Delaware River at a mean temperature of

16.3°C and departed at a mean temperature of 23.1 °C. Atlantic sturgeon # DSU1052433 (male, 

ROO Delaware) entered the river on April 22 at a corresponding water temperature of 15.9 o

C 

and departed on May 23 (20.6 o

C), Atlantic sturgeon # DSU1052442 (male, ROO Delaware) 

entered the river on April 17 (14.7 oC) and departed on June 6 (22.4 oC); both individuals were 

detected in similar areas as in 2009-2011 moving upstream to Chester, PA, river kilometer (rkm) 

129, and Tinicum Island (rkm 135) respectively. Atlantic sturgeon # DSU1122465 (male), 

entered the river on May 6 (16.3 o

C) and departed on May 25 (21.9 oC) reaching Wilmington, 

DE (rkm 120). Atlantic sturgeon # DSU1122466 (male), entered the Delaware River on May 13 

(17.6 o

C) and departed on June 22 (25.9 oC) reaching a maximum upstream extent of rkm 176 

(Bristol, PA). Atlantic sturgeon # DSU1122493 (male), entered the Delaware River on May 6 

(16.3 oC) and departed on June 1 (24.2 oC) reaching Tinicum Island, PA (rkm 135). One female 

(DSU1122488) was detected in the Delaware River in 2012 and occupied areas of the river with 

suitable habitat (i.e. flowing freshwater and hard bottom substrate (Sommerfield and Madson 

2003, and Simpson 2008). When captured on April 9, 2012 this female was 208cm FL and 

weighed 98 kg and had large black eggs visually estimated to be stage 5 (migratory nucleus; Van 

Eenennaam and Dorshov 1998) that would be ready to spawn in the spring of 2012. Atlantic 
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sturgeon # DSU1122488 entered the river on May 9 (17.2 oC) and remained in the river for 9 

days before leaving on May 29 (23.8 oC) traveling as far upstream as Chester, PA (rkm 130). 

The movements of all six adult Atlantic sturgeon were monitored via passive 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). The six adult 

Atlantic sturgeon spent the majority of the time between RKM 110 and 135 with one male 

venturing as far up as RKM 176 for several weeks before exiting the river (Figure 6). The 

movements of these Atlantic sturgeon in relation to the location of the salt front during their 

riverine residency shows they occupied areas from the location of the salt front to 20km 

upstream of the salt front while in the Delaware River (Figure 7). A single adult male Atlantic 

sturgeon (50kg and 185cm FL) telemetered on May 1, 2011 that was determined to have gonads 

stage 6 (post spermiation: Van Eenennaam and Dorshov 1998) entered the Delaware River on 

July 23, 2012 (27.7 °C). This male remained in the river until September 19 when water 

temperatures fell below 23.5 °C and may be indicative of a fall spawn similar to what has been 

recently documented in the Roanoke (Flowers and Hightower in prep) and James Rivers 

(Balazik et al. 2012). The male Atlantic sturgeon advanced quickly above Philadelphia (rkm 

153) where it remained between there and Burlington, NJ (rkm 187) until departure. 

Interbasin Exchange

As a result of our continued gillnetting and tagging efforts 46 Atlantic sturgeon were 

detected in the Hudson River in 2012 beginning as early as April 12 and departing as late as 

October 3. To date, no telemetered Atlantic sturgeon has entered both the Hudson River and the 

Delaware River, be it in the same year or across years. 

Literature Cited:

Balazik, M., T., G.C. Garman, J.P. Van Eenennaam, J. Mohler, and L.C. Woods. 2012. 

Empirical evidence of fall spawning by Atlantic sturgeon in the James River, Virginia. 

Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 141:1465-1471. 

Simpson, P.C. 2008. Movements and habitat use of Delaware River Atlantic Sturgeon. Masters 

Thesis. Delaware State University, Dover, Delaware. 137pp.
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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.

Van Eenennaam, J. P., and S. I. Doroshov. 1998. Effects of age and body size on gonadal 

development of Atlantic sturgeon. Journal of Fish Biology 53:624-637.

Figure 5. Passive receiver locations for the Hudson River, Delaware River, Delaware Bay, 

Coastal Atlantic Ocean of DE, MD, NJ, and VA in 2012. 
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Figure 6. Daily mode location of individual adult Atlantic sturgeon by River Kilometer during 

the likely period of spawning in 2012. 
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Figure 7. Daily mode location of adult Atlantic sturgeon in comparison to the salt front during 

the likely period of spawning in 2012. 

Summary of Expenditures for DSU:

• Salaries/fringe $35,102.03

• Travel $5,055.91

• Contractual $185.32

• Indirect Costs $53,178.00

• Supplies $3,158.53

• Scholarships $2,500.00

TOTAL: $99,179.79

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

interaction in Connecticut waters.

Objectives: To determine abundance and specific habitat utilization of shortnose and 

Atlantic sturgeon in Connecticut waters and correlate movements within and in/out of key areas 

in Connecticut with environmental variables (temperature, river flow, and dissolved oxygen).
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Significant progress towards meeting the objectives was attained with well more than the 

stated goal of fifty sturgeon (25 Atlantic, 25 shortnose) per year to be collected. A total of 174 

Atlantic sturgeon and 30 shortnose sturgeon were collected during this project segment. All fish 

collection efforts in Connecticut waters took place in areas not subject to the Harbor Porpoise 

Take Reduction Plan (HPTRP). Collection efforts were focused on gill netting during this 

segment until November when gill nets became less effective with the cooler water temperatures. 

Effort included 179 gill net sets on 51 days of netting (average 4 nets per day) and 25 trawls 

made on 4 days (average 6 trawls per day). 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) and physical condition/damage. All untagged sturgeon that had not 

been previously marked received a Pit tag implanted near the dorsal fin. Atlantic sturgeon also 

received an external USFWS t-bar tag inserted into the left side just anterior to the base of the 

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

implantation of an ultrasonic transmitter from all sturgeon captured based on overall 

health/condition. 

Shortnose sturgeon collected ranged from 47.5 cm FL to 110.5 cm FL (54.0 – 123.0 cm 

TL) and 0.6 to 14.2 kg in weight. Seven of the 30 collected were recaptures of previously tagged 

fish. Time at liberty between collections of these fish ranged from 1,813 to 7,207 days. All 

recaptures exceeded five years, with one fish having been captured three times over 14 years and 

one fish at large for twenty years. This last fish is notable as it was already an adult when tagged 

in 1992 at 87.5 cm FL. Early Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, 

Bureau of Natural Resources (CT DEEP) shortnose sturgeon mark recapture efforts utilized 

Carlin dangler tags, although the tags were hard wired with stainless steel wires to the left base 

of the dorsal fin rather than trailing on the end of a twisted wire as per the usual technique. 

When this fish was recaptured in 2012 the tag was found to be still attached and in good 

condition, documenting the efficacy of attaching external tags in this manner and the long life 

span of these animals. Over 600 recaptures of previously tagged shortnose sturgeon in the 

Connecticut River by CT DEEP support longevity of these sturgeon. Intervals of years between 

collections is common with the current record maximum 7,916 days (almost 22 years) between 
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initial collection/tagging and recapture. Moreover, many shortnose sturgeon have been 

captured/handled more than once by CT DEEP, up to as many as seven captures of one fish.

Lengths of Atlantic sturgeon captured ranged from 61.5 cm FL to 139.0 cm FL (70.0 –

154.0 cm TL) and 1.3 to 17.3 kg in weight during this segment. Twenty three of the 174 Atlantic 

sturgeon collected were recaptures of previously tagged fish. Thirteen of these recaptures were 

of fish originally tagged in Connecticut waters, 8 were tagged in NY waters, 1 in Virginia and 1 

in Delaware. Most (10 of 13) of the Atlantic sturgeon recaptures with CT DEEP applied tags 

were at large for short durations, having been initially tagged in 2012. These short term 

recaptures were still invaluable, demonstrating short term movement or residence, and animal 

health after having been previously handled. Two of these were recaptures of fish with surgical 

implantation of ultrasonic transmitters – documenting healing of the incision. The remaining 

three of the 13 CT DEEP recaptures document the return of fish from 2011 (2 sturgeon) and 

2010 (1 sturgeon). 

Most shortnose sturgeon were collected in the typical habitats/areas that have been shown 

to be productive from previous research efforts (CT DEEP unpublished). In contrast, the highest 

number of Atlantic sturgeon ever collected from within the Connecticut River by CT DEEP staff 

were seen in 2012 in an area that had not previously produced any Atlantic sturgeon. Sixty six 

Atlantic sturgeon were collected from a relatively small area of 2 kilometers within the estuarine 

portion of the Connecticut River over a 8 week period from late August to October. It remains 

unclear if the concentration of Atlantic sturgeon in the estuarine portion of the river was unusual 

in numbers, location or timing, as this precise area was never previously fished to the extent it 

was in 2012. Other locations within the lower river fished in 2012 that were identified over the 

previous 8 years did account for a few Atlantic sturgeon but provided no indications that large 

numbers of Atlantic sturgeon were present in the river in 2012. Shortnose sturgeon were present 

with Atlantic sturgeon in the lower River from May through July, a typical pattern seen in the 

Connecticut River where shortnose sturgeon move downriver during the springtime freshet when 

the salt wedge is displaced from the river. These fish remain until the flows drop and the salt 

wedge returns into the lower river and they slowly begin to move to other upriver areas. 

Shortnose sturgeon collections and detections of ultrasonic transmitters documented the return of 

shortnose sturgeon to the estuary region in September and October, during which time Atlantic 

sturgeon were still present. Typical of previous research efforts in the Connecticut River, both 
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Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon were collected in a single netting effort and often from a single 

gillnet documenting concurrent use of some habitats. 

A total of 31 ultrasonic transmitters were surgically implanted into Atlantic sturgeon 

during this project segment. Unusual, low river flow conditions in the Spring of 2012 allowed 

the early implantation of 25 ultrasonic transmitters into shortnose sturgeon and two into Atlantic 

sturgeon as reported in the previous Segment Report. Most (51%) Atlantic sturgeon captured 

within this project segment were collected within the Connecticut River, hence most of the 

surgical implants of acoustic transmitters were performed on sturgeon collected in the river.

The acoustic telemetry array of Vemco VR2W receivers (Figures 8, 9) was fully deployed in

Connecticut waters during this project segment. Over 2.5 million detections of ultrasonic 

transmitters were recorded in the CT DEEP array in 2012. Preliminary analyses indicate that this 

represents at least 54 Atlantic sturgeon implanted with ultrasonic transmitters by CT DEEP staff, 

at least 10 by other Section Six partners and over 30 by other Atlantic sturgeon researchers. A 

total of 47 shortnose sturgeon with ultrasonic transmitter implanted in previous Section 6 

segments were tracked in 2012 averaging over 30,000 detection per fish. All but two of the 

transmitters implanted into Atlantic sturgeon in 2012 by CT DEEP staff produced at least 500 

detections per individual, averaging over 10,000 detections per transmitter. Additionally, 10 of 

17 Atlantic sturgeon implanted with ultrasonic transmitters in 2011 and 13 of 20 implanted in 

2010 returned to Connecticut and areas monitored by the array. Two of the National Marine 

Fisheries Service (NMFS) “SCUTES” transmitters implanted into Atlantic sturgeon in 2009 

were also recorded in Connecticut waters during 2012, including one sturgeon implanted and 

released in the Gulf of Maine. This fish has spent considerable time in Connecticut waters each 

of the last three summers (2010, 2011 and 2012), providing over 15,000 detections per year. 

Atlantic sturgeon returning to Connecticut waters in the year(s) after tagging are especially 

gratifying in a few cases where less than 500 detections were collected in the tagging year. Few 

detections upon transmitter activation/implantation raise questions of fish mortality, transmitter 

failure, lack of receivers in the appropriate area, and/or rapid emigration from the area after 

surgical intervention. Return of Atlantic sturgeon to Connecticut waters over multiple years also 

highlights the importance of these habitats as detections of CT DEEP implanted transmitters 

have been reported from many other States/jurisdictions (NY, DE, NC and FL) as these fish 

make their seasonal migrations along the entire East Coast of the United States.
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Figure 8. Location of passive acoustic receivers in the Connecticut River.
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Figure 9. Location of passive acoustic receivers in Long Island Sound and the estuarine portion 

of the Connecticut River.

Summary of Expenditures

(Note: sampling efforts cover both objectives 6 and 7 concurrently, thus there is only one budget 

that covers both objectives. For this report, the budget was split 50/50 between the two 

objectives to clarify for reviewers). 

• Salary/fringe: $16,177.50

• Supplies: $167.50

TOTAL: $16,345.00

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

Atlantic sturgeon
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Objectives: To document the fine scale habitat us of Atlantic sturgeon in the near-shore 

marine environments of Long Island Sound. Information collected could be useful in 

determination of critical habitats and may be helpful in the long term management of Atlantic

sturgeon on a coastwide basis.

As described in job 6 (above), 174 Atlantic sturgeon were captured during this segment, 

with the largest percentage of these (56%) coming from the Connecticut River. All fish 

collection efforts in Connecticut waters took place in areas not subject to the Harbor Porpoise 

Take Reduction Plan (HPTRP). Most of the remaining 76 fish collected were captured off the 

mouth of the Connecticut River and only 3 Atlantic sturgeon were captured from the centrally 

located Long Island Sound ‘concentration area’. Numbers of Atlantic sturgeon captured from 

usual areas of Long Island Sound were low, averaging less than 0.3 fish per net until October. 

On October 2, manual tracking of acoustic transmitters indicated the presence of at least 7 

acoustically tagged Atlantic sturgeon in a small area off the mouth of the Connecticut River, less 

than a kilometer from usual gill net locations. Four gillnets were set resulting in the collection of 

60 Atlantic sturgeon. Unfortunately, nine fish were found to be mortalities upon retrieval of the 

gear. Soak times were not excessive and a second boat and crew were dispatched as soon as the 

holding tank and pen were full to reduce handling time and help revive fish, but those fish 

removed from the gill nets in a moribund condition never displayed any signs of life despite 

prolonged attempts at resuscitation. 

Acoustic receivers deployed in Long Island Sound sustained very high losses in 2012 (15 

lost of 35 deployed) including several of those utilized to monitor immigration and emigration 

from Long Island Sound waters. Available data indicates that tagged Atlantic sturgeon behaved 

similarly to those detected in previous years although there were differences observed. Analyses 

of acoustic data confirmed the lack of fish in typically gill netted areas and suggests that Atlantic 

sturgeon shifted their distribution slightly within the two ‘concentration areas’ in Long Island 

Sound, in both cases moving shallower and towards the Connecticut shore. Limited 

understanding of sturgeon behavior and benthic habitats/food resources in Connecticut waters 

prevents firm conclusions from being made but these small shifts in distribution (on the order of 

2 to 10 kilometers) were likely a result of prey availability as other abiotic conditions (water 

temperature, dissolved oxygen) did not likely change on these spatial scales. Generally, Atlantic 
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sturgeon returning over multiple years, revisit the same locations. Fish collected within the 

Connecticut River often return to the river, despite the challenges they must face as they 

transition from the marine into a riverine environment. Fish do move among known 

concentration areas and episodic detection of some fish indicates that there are still other 

unknown moderate use areas in Long Island Sound. One interesting pattern observed is that 

Atlantic sturgeon move westerly to the mid-Sound deep water concentration area before 

emigrating from Long Island Sound. Pathway of emigration remains unknown but monitoring of 

the far western end of Long Island sound by other researchers suggests that the East River is not 

the major corridor of emigration. Previous speculation of sturgeon exiting through the deep 

water along the North shore of Long Island, New York remains but remains plausible. 

Placement of acoustic receivers in this area would be challenging but invaluable in helping to 

further understand timing and location of migratory corridors.

Summary of Expenditures

(Note: sampling efforts cover both objectives 6 and 7 concurrently, thus there is only one budget 

that covers both objectives. For this report, the budget was split 50/50 between the two 

objectives to clarify for reviewers). 

• Salary/fringe: $16,177.50

• Supplies: $167.50

TOTAL: $16,345.00

8- Development of remote sensed spatial models for sturgeons in the mid-Atlantic region

The overall goal of this portion of the project is to develop spatial models for Atlantic 

sturgeon in the Mid-Atlantic. The modeling portion of this study is behind schedule. The 

University of Delaware was originally awarded a post-doc to develop a spatial model for 

sturgeon in the study region. The reduction in federal funds replaced the post-doc with a student. 

While students are capable of this task in the long run, there is a much larger challenge in 

training and teaching a student the techniques for proper data handling and modeling on a project 

like this. Because of the cut in funds, and the extra time investment needed to bring a student up 

to speed, there have been significant delays in producing a quality spatial model of sturgeon 

distribution for the Mid-Atlantic region. Notwithstanding the challenges associated with funding 
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cuts, the student has been trained to properly handle acoustic receiver data and to merge this data 

with satellite observations. An initial maximum likelihood model for predicting the intersection 

between sea surface temperature and Atlantic sturgeon locations is incomplete, but promising

(Figure 10). The spatial application of this model is coherent with observations of Atlantic 

sturgeon. Application of this model during mean June temperature conditions is promising, but 

not yet appropriately constrained (Figure 11). The inclusion of ocean color data is expected to 

significantly improve the model. Post processing of ocean color data has been completed and 

these predictors will be included to improve the spatial and temporal accuracy of future models.

Figure 10. Observed acoustic detections of Atlantic sturgeon in the Mid-Atlantic (black 

contours) show a seasonal relationship to sea surface temperatures. Contours represent lines that 

contain 50 or 95% of acoustic observations. A simple maximum likelihood model was 

constructed based on temperature alone that could reproduce the observed distribution of 

Atlantic sturgeon (blue contours).
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Figure 11. Spatial application of the test model for average June temperature conditions.

Probability of Atlantic sturgeon location (color palette) is generally congruous with observations 

of Atlantic sturgeon in June (circles). The test model performs well in Delaware Bay, but is 

lacking appropriate constraints in the coastal ocean. 

Summary of Expenditures

• $45,567.09 in Salary, Travel, computing supplies and indirect costs

• A balance of $6843.91 will be used in additional supplies for the project. 

9- Atlantic Cooperative Telemetry Network:

Lori Brown is still maintaining the existing GoogleDoc 

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

QkdKQVpnSkE#gid=0) with tags codes from researchers along the Atlantic coast. There are 

over 3140 active transmitters (‘active’ transmitters are those considered to be working as of 

1/1/2011 based on estimated transmitter life) in the current database. Sturgeons make up 

approximately 44% of telemetered animals with active transmitters. There are over 7300 total 

transmitters including those with unknown expiration dates and those that are expired. Overall, 

sturgeons represent approximately 28% of the total database (Table 2). 
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Table 2. Breakdown of the number of transmitters identified as sturgeon in the Atlantic 

 Cooperative Telemetry Network database. *Indicates fish that were identified as 

 sturgeon but actual species was not given. 

Species Active 

Transmitters

Transmitters 

with Unknown 

Expirations

Expired 

Transmitters

Total Transmitters

Atlantic 

sturgeon

1217 71 210 1498

Shortnose 

sturgeon

123 115 74 312

Sturgeon* 51 136 32 219

All species 3143 1761 2398 7302

The ACT Network transmitter list has facilitated communication between researchers and 

provided more detailed information about movement patterns and timing. Coastal gates, like 

those off the coast of Delaware and Virginia, have been providing extensive information for a 

variety of species migrating along the coast.

Contact has been made with a number of researchers that are starting to develop 

telemetry programs. In an effort to enhance and continue to develop ACT as well as spread the 

word and increase researcher involvement, work has been initiated with a number of agencies 

and programs to further develop collaborations.

• IOOS Animal Telemetry Network

o Involved in improving access to Animal Acoustic Telemetry Observations Data 

Project 

o Provide information for workshops and meeting to further the importance of data 

sharing and collaborative efforts between researchers

• Chesapeake/James River Project - Mid-Atlantic Acoustic Telemetry Observation System

o This project is in the development and deployment stages in the Chesapeake Bay 

and James River. They are deploying both standard and new cabled (real-time) 

acoustic receivers and are looking for insights into contacting researchers whose 

transmitters are detected in the array. 

• Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission – Interstate Tagging Committee

o Part of the mission of the Interstate Tagging Committee is to provide education 

and information about various tagging techniques and tagging projects going on 
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in the region. They are planning on adding more detailed information about 

acoustic tagging and information about data sharing and the ACT Network (with a 

link to the website).

To further enhance the ACT Network and provide more information about the role of 

ACT, content has been added to the website (www.theactnetwork.com). After discussing the 

website with Dewayne Fox, Tom Savoy, and John Manderson, it was decided to further develop 

the user registration to: 1) Gather some more details from researchers (including if they are 

deploying tags, maintaining receiver arrays, etc.) and 2) To establish more guidelines for 

researchers regarding the use of data. The website search tools are still in the development 

stages. The tag code summary search is working, but with limited data. A new search tool has 

been developed to search for researcher contact information based on tag codes, but will not be 

made operational on the website until it has been tested and debugged.

Work with researchers on the Delaware system continues to make sure all data is 

standardized and available in a timely manner. Efforts have been made between all researchers 

(Environmental Research Consultants, Delaware Fish and Wildlife, New Jersey Department of 

Environmental Protection, and Delaware State University) to download all receivers before the 

end of 2012 in order to process receiver data. All downloaded data was checked for accurate 

station information and coordinates. All edited files were shared with collaborators via Dropbox 

so data can be downloaded and utilized as needed. Database metadata and templates are 

maintained and updates are posted to the Dropbox for use. There are still a number of deployed 

receivers that do not have the correct Station and coordinate information, making post processing 

time consuming. In an attempt to keep track of these issues in Delaware Bay/River, a Google 

Document was developed with all station names, receiver locations, who owns/maintains it, any 

particular issues (“no station name associated with receiver”), and last known download date. 

This document can be edited by all collaborators. 

On September 20th, Lori met with Heather Corbett (NJDEP) to go over correct methods 

of downloading, initializing, and processing telemetry data using VEMCO software. Heather 

had issues with using the VEMCO software and wanted to understand how to search for 

transmitter codes and initialize receivers correctly in order to reduce post processing efforts in 

the future. 
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Presentations

Lori M. Brown , Thomas F. Savoy , John Manderson , and Dewayne A. Fox. Using Networks to 

Enhance Telemetry Research in the Eastern United States: The Atlantic Cooperative 

Telemetry Network. 142nd Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society, 

Minneapolis – St. Paul, MN. August 22, 2012

Lori Brown. The Atlantic Cooperative Telemetry (ACT) Network: Facilitating data sharing 

between researchers. Presented to the ASMFC – Interstate Tagging Committee

10- Education/Outreach:

The development of the education and outreach component of this project has been 

limited by federal funding budget cuts. Focus has been primarily on the other aspects of this 

project with the budget shifted to fulfill those objectives. 

11- Data Processing / Regulatory Information: 

The State of NJ 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 and Atlantic sturgeon 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).

Data is now being entered from field activities into the Biotics database. Data 

currently being processed include early life stage information collected during spring 2012, as 

well as receiver hits for both Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon in the Delaware River and bay. 

This information will be incorporated into the next version of the Landscape Project, which is 

scheduled to be released in May 2013.

In addition, the Species Occurrence Area (SOA) model for Atlantic sturgeon was revised 

based on the existing shortnose sturgeon model. The model will be used in the next version of 

the Landscape Project. SOA’s for each feature label were developed; distances associated with 

each feature label will be refined as project results are acquired. Feature labels to date are as 

follows: 1) spawning area – egg sighting -2) spawning area – adult sighting 3) nursery area –

larva sighting 4) nursery area – young-of-year sighting 5) migration corridor – juvenile sighting 

6) migration corridor – adult sighting 7) summering area – juvenile sighting 8) summering area –
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adult sighting.

The spatially explicit telemetry data that DNREC-DFW has been collecting on shortnose 

and Atlantic sturgeon (via objective 2) has allowed DNREC-DFW to begin coordinating with 

NJDEP to utilize the methods developed for these species to ensure a standardized approach. 

Due to the latest reduction in federal funding, staff time and effort towards this objective have 

been shifted to Objective 2. However, because there is a need for GIS data and maps depicting 

important habitat and specific areas that support estuarine/marine species, this objective can be 

appropriately completed under a different grant program as part of a larger mapping initiative. 

DNREC-DFW staff will continue to coordinate with NJ-DEP as the data is incorporated into 

Biotics and maps are generated but the funds from this grant award will not be used to complete 

this objective.