2007 Status Review of Atlantic sturgeon - National Marine Fisheries ...

Historically, Atlantic sturgeon were likely present in many South Carolina river/estuary systems,
but it is not known where spawning occurred. Secor (2002) estimated that 8,000 spawning
females were likely present prior to 1890, based on US Fish Commission landing records. Since
the 1800s, however, populations have declined dramatically (Collins and Smith 1997). During
the last two decades, Atlantic sturgeon have been observed in most South Carolina coastal rivers,
although it is not known if all rivers support a spawning subpopulation (Collins and Smith 1997).
Winyah Bay (Waccamaw, Great Pee Dee, and Sampit Rivers) – South Carolina
Recent shortnose sturgeon sampling (using 5, 5.5, 7, and 9 inch stretched mesh experimental gill
nets; 16’ otter trawl) conducted in Winyah Bay captured two sub-adult Atlantic sturgeon during
4.2 hrs of effort in 2004. Captures of age-1 juveniles from the Waccamaw River during the early
1980s suggest that a reproducing population of Atlantic sturgeon may persist in that river,
although the fish could have been from the nearby Great Pee Dee River (Collins and Smith
1997). In 2003 and 2004, nine Atlantic sturgeon (48.4-112.2 cm FL) were captured in the
Waccamaw River during the SC Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) annual American
shad gill net survey, although none were considered spawning adults or YOY. However, Collins
et al. (1996) note that unlike northern populations, in South Carolina, YOY are considered to be
less than 50 cm TL or 42.5 cm FL, as growth rates are greater in the warmer southern waters
compared to cooler northern waters. Therefore, the capture of a 48.4 cm FL sturgeon provides
some evidence that YOY may be present in the Waccamaw River and some evidence of a
spawning subpopulation. Lastly, watermen on the lower Waccamaw and Pee Dee rivers have
observed jumping sturgeon, which suggest that rivers either serve as a nursery/feeding habitat or
support an extant subpopulation(s) (W. Laney, USFWS, Pers. Comm. 2007).
Until recently, there was no evidence that Atlantic sturgeon spawned in the Great Pee Dee River,
although subadults were frequently captured and large adults were often observed by fishers.
However, a fishery survey conducted by Progress Energy Carolinas Incorporated captured a
running ripe male in October of 2003 and observed other large sturgeon, perhaps revealing a fall
spawning run.
There are no data available regarding the presence of YOY or spawning adult Atlantic sturgeon
in the Sampit River, although it did historically support a subpopulation and is thought to serve
as a nursery ground for local stocks (ASMFC In Prep).
Santee and Cooper Rivers – South Carolina
The capture of 151 subadults, including age-1 juveniles, in the Santee River in 1997 suggests
that an Atlantic sturgeon population exists in this river (Collins and Smith 1997). This is
supported by three adult Atlantic sturgeon carcasses found above the Wilson and Pinopolis dams
in Lakes Moultrie (Santee-Cooper reservoirs) during the 1990s (M. Collins, SCDNR, Pers.
Comm. 2006). Although shortnose sturgeon spawning above the dam has been documented,
there is scant information to support existence of a land-locked subpopulation of Atlantic
sturgeon. In 2004, 15 subadult Atlantic sturgeon were captured in shortnose sturgeon surveys
during 156.6 hrs of effort conducted in the Santee estuary. The previous winter, four juvenile
(YOY and subadults) Atlantic sturgeon were captured (360 – 657 mm FL) from the Santee (N =
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