Carp-e diem: Sturgeon conservation project celebrates 30 years in Manitoba’s north

Posted on June 13, 2024 by Peggy

Tom Scott is proud to carry on the vision of his late father, whose efforts to safeguard the survival of an important fish in Manitoba turned 30 this year.

Hundreds of year-old sturgeon were released into the Nelson River Tuesday morning as youth and leaders from nearby Indigenous communities gathered along the river banks in Norway House to set free the fish and celebrate the 30th anniversary of the first release by the Nelson River Sturgeon Board.

The idea to hatch, grow and release sturgeon back into the river each year was co-founded by the late Ernie Scott, Tom Scott’s father.

“When you talk about a big and everlasting vision, this is one of them,” Tom Scott told CBC at the event. “I’m really proud to be here and representing the board as a member today because if it wasn’t for [my father] and his work … then we wouldn’t have something like this.”

A guy with a mustache stands on a beach. Lots of children in the background. — Tom Scott stands along the shore of Nelson River during the 30th anniversary of releasing sturgeon into the river in Norway House on June 11, 2024. Scott’s father was instrumental in the work of the Nelson River Sturgeon Board. (Jenna Dulewich/CBC)

Sturgeon are a prehistoric fish with fossils dating back to 100 million years ago. They are known to live more than 150 years.

Threats to the population started in the 1860 when commercial fishing began depleting it, along with the loss of habitat due to hydroelectric dams.

The introduction of the Manitoba Hydro diversion and Jenpeg Generating Station caused a “lot of havoc” for people along the Nelson River, Tom Scott told CBC.

“It is not very good or very healthy,” he said.

After the Nelson River Sturgeon Board was created, the province and Manitoba Hydro made investments to support the management and conservation of the fish in the upper Nelson River.

“We need to be proactive … we are the original ecologists of this land and we are the ones that are trying to keep and protect our nature from all different kinds of things,” Tom Scott said.

The majority of the original board members were not present for the 30th anniversary, as many of them have died. There was a moment of silence on Tuesday to honour the late members and the work that has been done.

“It’s been a long trip and I miss a lot of my friends,” Reg Meade, the last remaining original board member, said at the anniversary event.

A man stands with a tub of year-old alive sturgeon. — Reg Meade, the last remaining original board member of the Nelson River Sturgeon Board, stands with a tub of year-old sturgeon ready to be released into the river. (Jenna Dulewich/CBC)

Standing on the shore watching the 30th release of the sturgeon, Meade told CBC it was still exciting.

“I think I’m more excited than some of the kids that are out there, but this is something that we do and it’s really improved over the years,” Meade told CBC at the event.

Youth from the First Nations communities of Pimicikamak and Kinosao Sipi were tasked with releasing the fish.Their schools, along with many others in northern Manitoba, have tanks of the sturgeon in the classroom to teach the next generation about species preservation.

In the next 30 years, Meade said he would like to see the board get bigger and have people realize the board members are not doing the work for themselves but for the future of the sturgeon.

“We got to make the best with what we have and it’s working,” Meade said.

Tom Scott said he would also like to see the board expand and build capacity with biology and environmental experts.

“If we don’t do it, nobody will,” he said.

“The [sturgeon] represent a species that’s been there for millions of years and they’re still around so we have to do our best to protect them for another million years.”