Many ATS made multiple trips through the study area during dredge operations. ATS that migrated upstream during dredge operations (N = 103) traversed the dredge area and continued upstream to spawning habitat. Telemetry data showed that all ATS that entered the study area survived. To determine if and how an active dredge may affect ATS spawning migration, a Vemco Positioning System array was deployed around an active hydraulic-cutterhead dredge that adult ATS must traverse to reach spawning habitat in the James River, VA. Atlantic sturgeon (ATS) are an endangered, anadromous species along the Atlantic slope of North America. However, it is generally unknown how anadromous fish react to encountering an active dredge during spawning migrations. Due to the perceived threat caused by dredging, environmental windows that restrict dredge operations are enforced within many rivers along the east coast. Dredging is considered a major threat/impedance to anadromous fish migrating to spawning habitat.
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