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Sturgeon in Tsawwassen Mills Aquarium Euthanized

Photo: Cliff / Flickr

Just two weeks ago, a petition surfaced online to release a Sturgeon from the Bass Pro Shop at the new Tsawwassen Mills Mall.

Sadly, the five-foot White Sturgeon has been put down.

The petition argued that these fish can live up to 150 years in the wild and that it is inhumane to keep them captive.

Since the opening of the Bass Pro Shop, wildlife activists were concerned about the Sturgeon’s behaviour. The fish had been bobbing along the surface of the aquarium – a sign of environment acclimatizing.

However, the shop’s general manager told CTV News that further examination of the fish revealed “internal complications”.

Veterinarians concluded the most responsible action was to humanely euthanize the fish,” said manager Gerry MacIntyre. “While full results are still pending, the condition was unrelated to the aquarium or the care provided and the fish likely developed the condition prior to its arrival.”  

In BC, sturgeon fishing is “Catch and Release”, with fish being tagged for further research to help sustain the endangered species. White Sturgeons have been on the “Aquatic Species at Risk” list since 2003.

The White Sturgeon came from Northern Divine Aquafarms, a “land-based Ocean Wise farm”. And although the species is strictly catch-and-release, certain requirements were met to allow for the Sturgeon to inhabit the aquarium at Bass Pro Shops in the Tsawwassen Mills mega mall.

MacIntyre assures that the shop has a strong passion for wildlife and outdoor conservation.

Our mission is to inspire people to enjoy, love and conserve the outdoors. When people come to Bass Pro Shops and see these incredible animals up close, we know they will want to explore their natural habitats and help protect our native species for future generations,” he said.

The petition to release the Sturgeon had been signed by nearly 720 people.

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