A Preliminary Abundance Estimate of an Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) Contingent Within an Open Riverine System

Abundance estimates are essential for fisheries management, but estimating the abundance of open populations with low recapture rates has historically been unreliable. However, by using mark-recapture data modulated survivability parameters obtained from analysis acoustic telemetry data, more accurate can be made species that exhibit these characteristics. One such is Atlantic sturgeon, which were designated a research priority following precipitous population declines throughout 20th century. We addressed this need in Saco River Estuary (SRE), system where sturgeon extensively studied and methods since 2009. These analyzed Bayesian Lincoln-Peterson estimator, constrained Cormack-Jolly-Seber model, to provide an initial estimate system. The resulting indicated approximately 3 299 (95% Credible Interval: 1 462–6 828) utilize SRE yearly, suggesting provides critical foraging habitat large contingent within Gulf Maine. present study demonstrated method utilized herein was effective generating reasonable events rare, therefore may valuable technique supplying fish additional systems display similar