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 – 5/31/2011

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 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 on June 30, 2011 to https://grantsonline.rdc.noaa.gov
June 2011 Progress Report-NAI0NMF4720030

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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 nearly 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 ultimately

result in information on the habitat requirements, migratory pathways, and life history

characteristics 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 early 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 professional 

nature. 

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

waters

The Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife’s (DNREC-DFW) objectives are to locate 

early juvenile nursery areas that when combined with known late-stage juvenile nursery areas, 

will be used as groundwork to develop a restoration plan, establish critical habitat areas, and 

enable the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife (DNREC-DFW) to comment on permit 
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requests that may impact sturgeon. 

A secondary objective is to determine the extent of migration between the Delaware 

River and the Chesapeake Bay of shortnose and Atlantic juvenile sturgeon through the use of 

information generated by shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon telemetry. DNREC-DFW has taken 

the lead on this objective for logistic reasons but New Jersey has agreed to partner. 

Progress towards these objectives was made despite a 3 month delay. To begin work the 

DNREC-DFW temporarily encumbered the license fund with all expenses, beginning on Sept 

7

th, 2010. These funds were replaced with Section 6 funds once they were received. This 

strategy allowed plans to proceed without missing the first gillnetting season. 

Introduction

The transitional zone that occurs in this portion of the Delaware River Estuary is highly 

developed and industrialized. Potential threats from new municipal and industrial discharges, 

water withdrawals, dredging operations and heavy shipping use make identification of critical 

sturgeon habitat essential for the survival of Delaware River stock. It is important for the 

DNREC-DFW and other resource management agencies throughout the Basin to be able to 

identify and protect crucial habitat for all life phases of sturgeon. 

Implanting early juvenile Atlantic sturgeon with ultrasonic (acoustic) transmitters will be 

an integral part of this study. These fish will allow DNREC-DFW to determine spatial and 

temporal patterns associated with early juvenile nursery areas, individual movement patterns, 

home ranges and habitat use. The study period length of three years is necessary so that annual 

seasonal movements of transmitter-tagged fish can be determined. Shifting habitat preference of 

early sturgeon has been documented for age- 0 through age- 2 in other systems (Hatin et al. 

2007). Longer term monitoring of individuals will be necessary to define changing nursery

habitat over time as an individual recruits into a new age class and shifts its habitat preferences.

Methods

Collections took place in the Delaware River Estuary, primarily in Delaware waters at 

Carney’s Point [river kilometer (rkm) 110], Marcus Hook Anchorage (rkm 127), Tinicum Island 

(rkm 138) and Mifflin anchorage (rkm 145). The active telemetry array maintained throughout 

the Estuary essentially expands the sampling area well beyond the selected sites and provided the 
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additional active site at Carney’s Point. Additional receivers were deployed in the lower River to 

complement the existing array maintained by Delaware State University (DSU) (D. Fox), 

Environmental Research and Consulting, Inc. (ERC) (H. Brundage)1and DNREC-DFW. To 

address an overall project goal to look at cross system (Chesapeake and Delaware) migration of 

Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon (NJ shortnose project) 4 additional receivers were deployed in 

the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal and the Elk River to compliment the receiver in the eastern 

end of the canal. Receivers are attached to USCG Navigational buoys. The transmitters utilized 

in this study are fully compatible with existing and planned receiver arrays in the Hudson River 

as well as those in Long Island Sound and the Connecticut River.

Captured Atlantic sturgeon were carefully handled according to the Atlantic Sturgeon 

Research Protocols draft (Damon-Randall et al. 2010). Movements of Atlantic sturgeon 

implanted with ultrasonic transmitters were monitored using both active and passive tracking

techniques. Ten of the transmitters were programmed with a long delay (240 seconds) to extend 

the life of the tag to approximately one year to look at seasonal movements. Twenty transmitters 

were programmed with a short delay (60 seconds). This short delay is needed to be able to track 

and locate sturgeon quickly and accurately. Active tracking occurred using a VEMCO® VR100 

receiver and 2 hydrophones that were previously purchased. During manual tracking events, the 

locations of tagged fish were determined through standard telemetry techniques and recorded 

using GPS coordinates. 

Results/Discussion

Gillnetting Activity Summary (Note: this summary of gillnetting activities conducted 

during the reporting period of 6/1/2010 to 12/1/2010 is included to provide background 

for work conducted this reporting period 12/1/2010 to 5/31/2011)

Due to the administrative delays in receiving funding, gillnetting began on October 11th, 

2010 instead of the planned June 2010 start date. Effort level was increased during the shorter 

gillnetting season to 8 days a month instead of the 4 days a month to compensate. Due to the 

high catch rates of early stage juvenile sturgeon in October and November of the previous season 

(n=31), it was reasonable to expect to meet tagging goals of 30 transmitter Atlantic sturgeon with 

 

1Work conducted by ERC (H. Brundage) in this segment was funded by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers through 

the Seaboard Fisheries Institute.
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an increase in effort during this time period. Gillnetting effort occurred at 4 sites; Carney’s 

Point, Marcus Hook anchorage, Tinicum Island, and Mifflin anchorage. Three of the sites 

(excluding Carney’s Point) were identified as young-of-the- year habitat based on late fall 

manual tracking results in 2009. These sites produced only 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 effort focused on Carney’s point and produced the remaining 10 

Atlantic sturgeon. They ranged in size from 608 to 672 mm TL and although they are larger than 

the early stage juvenile target (<500 mm TL) all were implanted with transmitters. This was 

done because early stage juveniles <500 mm TL were 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 habitat locations. 

Gillnetting ceased on November 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-year (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 early 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 by comparing length at capture of 2009 YoY sturgeon, H. 

Brundage captures in the spring/summer of 2010, and captures by Brundage and Fisher in fall of 

2010 the 2009 year class is growing rapidly (Figure 1). Due to this rapid growth, all 11 Atlantic 

sturgeon that received transmitters are believed to be 2009 year class fish.
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Figure 1. Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife 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 year 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 deployed 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 systems of shortnose and Atlantic 

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

Previously deployed 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 weather was carefully 

monitored throughout the season. No receivers were lost due to ice. 

Due to gillnetting efforts in the first segment producing 11 Atlantic sturgeon, priority was 
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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 symbols 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 location. The 

blue line Water Temperature (°C) was recorded at the Reedy Island 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 one 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. 

Transmitters expired on March 9th and March 24th, 2011. 
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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

Did 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 Riverdetected 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 early spring are unavailable as of the date of this writing. 

In late December and early January, 5 of the 6 remaining juveniles settled into their 
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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 by receivers (5 in 8 rkm of the Marcus Hook area) so these fish were 

detected despite their low movement behavior (Figure 2).

In mid-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 likely 

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 buoy 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 TL individual (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 by DNREC-DFW have briefly 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, 2011 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 by 

the Delaware Memorial Bridge for logistical reasons. 
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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 types (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 6th 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), well above Hatin et 

al’s (2007) observed limit of 6 ppt. An additional sturgeon (tagged by 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 only 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 TL in 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 by Lazzari 1986 and earlier studies. Poor water quality likely 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 by 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 1st, 2011 from Artificial Island to Commodore Barry Bridge (area pictured). On 

February 2nd, 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 oxyrhynchus, 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 Early 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, Symposium 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. Estuaries. 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 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 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 
June 2011 Progress Report-NAI0NMF4720030

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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 by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers through the Seaboard Fisheries 

Institute. All folks mentioned contributed greatly 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 system 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 by purchasing and 

deploying 20 new VEMCO VR2 receivers in New Jersey waters of the Delaware Bay. Data 

from the receivers will be downloaded monthly 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 early juvenile Atlantic and juvenile shortnose sturgeon to 

supplement the juvenile tracking performed in Delaware. 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 by the NJDEP Commissioner’s Office in late April, 2011. 

NJDEP is now going through the process of securing a Waiver of Advertising for contract work 

through a 52:349a Statutory Justification for work of a highly technical and professional nature. 

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

the Delaware River Estuary

Summary
June 2011 Progress Report-NAI0NMF4720030

Page 18 of 34

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, project investigators Dewayne 

Fox (from Delaware State University) and John Madsen (UD) met with Bartholomew Wilson 

(DNREC-Coastal Programs, Delaware Bay Benthic Mapping Project) to discuss the integration 

of benthic habitat mapping data that has been collected 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 approved 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 currently being process by 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 year 

of a contract between DSU, the F.V. Dana Christine, and NOAA-NERO-OPR. Spring sampling 

commenced in early 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 (ASSRT) was convened by NMFS. In 
June 2011 Progress Report-NAI0NMF4720030

Page 19 of 34

February 2007, the ASSRT identified five distinct population segments (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 

recently, numerous collections 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 ASSRT 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 

year 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 States Coast Guard (USCG) aids to navigation (ATON) or independently to concrete 
June 2011 Progress Report-NAI0NMF4720030

Page 20 of 34

blocks and downloaded on an approximately monthly basis. 

Nine passive acoustic receivers were deployed in a line just north of the gillnetting 

operations with the first receiver located 1km offshore and the remaining receivers deployed 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 before 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 entirely 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 tiedowns 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 interactions. 

Water temperature, and salinity were recorded at the start of each gillnetting location 

using a Yellow Springs Institute YSI 85, 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 deployment were recorded with a GPS and depth was recorded with a hull 

mounted echosounder. 

Results and Discussion

Telemetry Array

A number of passive acoustic receivers were maintained in the Delaware River Estuary

during the winter months by collaborators. Additional receivers were deployed by DSU to 

support the identification of spawning areas and to describe the migratory patterns of Atlantic 
June 2011 Progress Report-NAI0NMF4720030

Page 21 of 34

sturgeon during the early spring of 2010. Beginning on March 30th, 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 7th to form a coastal ‘gate’. On April 23, an additional 

10 acoustic receivers were deployed in the Delaware River to fill in holes in the existing array 

with the goal of refining the assessment of spawning activities. The final deployment in the 

Delaware system took place on May 5th when 19 receivers were deployed on USCG ATONs in 

the Delaware Bay. Hudson River deployments were initiated on March 7th when a total of seven 

receivers were place in NY Harbor and the lower portions of the river. This deployment was 

followed by the placement of an additional six receivers on May 11th. Hudson River receivers 

were also supplemented by overwinter deployments for a study focused on striped bass residency

being conducted by the University of Maryland. Additionally, NYDEC deployed a number of 

fully compatible passive receivers for work on American shad during the early spring.

Sampling

Directed sampling in coastal waters by DSU for Atlantic sturgeon took place on the 

chartered F.V. from April 2 and concluded on May 13, 2011 (Table 3). 

Table 3: Collections of Atlantic sturgeon by 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
June 2011 Progress Report-NAI0NMF4720030

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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
June 2011 Progress Report-NAI0NMF4720030

Page 23 of 34

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
June 2011 Progress Report-NAI0NMF4720030

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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
June 2011 Progress Report-NAI0NMF4720030

Page 25 of 34

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
June 2011 Progress Report-NAI0NMF4720030

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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
June 2011 Progress Report-NAI0NMF4720030

Page 27 of 34

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 sturgeon 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 deployed which were either tieddown 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 Mdart tag, and a genetic sample was collected. All sand tiger sharks collected during DSU 

sampling activities were released alive following processing.

Genetic Composition
June 2011 Progress Report-NAI0NMF4720030

Page 28 of 34

The haplotype 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 successfully assigned to one of 12 specific haplotypes from eight 

different groupings representing varying regional composition of the haplotypes (Grunwald et al. 

2007). Results of the assignments on remaining individuals are still pending. Haplotypes 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 by haplotypes from the entire range of 

the species (A) (24), and then haplotypes 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 haplotype 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 haplotype (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 oC) and departed on May 19 (17.6 oC), Atlantic sturgeon # DSU1052442 (male, haplotype 

B, Hudson and Delaware,) entered the river on May 7 (18.1 oC) and departed on June 4 (23.8 

oC); both sturgeon were detected in the same areas as in 2009 (rkm 110-130). Atlantic sturgeon 

# DSU1084954, which has haplotype A (range wide), entered the river on April 16 (15.8 oC) and 

departed the next day; visual inspection of the gonad revealed it to be a non-ripe female. 

Atlantic sturgeon # DSU1084965, which also exhibited haplotype A, entered the Delaware River 

on May 9 (18.0 oC) and departed on June 6 (24.5 oC); 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 predominantly 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 
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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 collect 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 oC) and remained in the river 

until May 5 (16.2 oC) when it rapidly departed and was detected again off the coast of MD, NJ 

and DE on May 11 and 12 (12.7 oC). It then returned to the lower portion of the river on May 20 

(17.6 oC) where it remained until May 22 (18.6 oC) 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 Delaware 

River on June 1(23.0oC). 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. Savoy, Connecticut 

Department of Environmental Protection; D. Erickson, University of Miami, Pew 

Institute for Ocean Science

2) Graduate Research Symposium, 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. 
June 2011 Progress Report-NAI0NMF4720030

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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. 2007. 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 geophysical survey of the 

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

Wirgin, I., C. Grunwald, J. Stabile, and J. Waldman. 2007. Genetic evidence for relict 

Atlantic 

sturgeon stocks along the mid-Atlantic coast of the USA. North 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 
June 2011 Progress Report-NAI0NMF4720030

Page 31 of 34

prior to May of 2011 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 2011.

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 year 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 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. 

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:
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Summary 

Delays 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 early 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 by 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 3rd, 2011. 

In December of 2010 a request for transmitter codes was sent by 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
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“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 University.

2) NOAA-IOOS 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, 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.

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 geophysical survey of the 

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

Wirgin, I., C. Grunwald, J. Stabile, and J. Waldman. 2007. Genetic evidence for relict 

Atlantic 
June 2011 Progress Report-NAI0NMF4720030

Page 34 of 34

sturgeon stocks along the mid-Atlantic 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 initiated 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).