B.C. First Nation investigates sturgeon deaths, with plan to track drifting carcasses

By Brenna Owen It took four people to haul the carcass of a sturgeon off the banks of the Fraser River in Richmond, B.C., earlier this month, one of dozens to wash up recently. The body of the hefty fish about 1.6 metres long was then frozen as part of a research project spearheaded by the Tsawwassen First Nation to help understand why sturgeon are dying and guide conservation efforts. It’s destined to eventually be floated back down the river, fitted with an electronic tracker, as part of the project. Kelly Scott, a biologist working for the First Nation, says the fish are like dinosaurs, dating back as far as 200 million years ago, so mortality events are worrisome and raise questions about what is changing in their environment. “We…

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