For over 200 million years, sturgeon have been swimming the waters of the world. They outlived the dinosaurs, yet in less than one sturgeon’s lifetime, humans have brought this prehistoric fish to the brink of extinction. Almost all species and populations worldwide are in trouble.
Vancouver Island University (VIU) in Nanaimo, British Columbia, has been working with the white sturgeon since 1984 conducting field and laboratory research projects as well as teaching students and the general public about these amazing fish. To continue developing sturgeon research, VIU has reached a stage that requires an expansion of its facilities. The World Sturgeon Conservation Society has also identified the need for a dedicated sturgeon research centre in North America. To fill these needs, VIU has constructed the International Centre for Sturgeon Studies (ICSS) on campus.