Aquatic Resource Preservation

Specific Judging Considerations

• To recognize the organized and sustained efforts of individuals, businesses, organizations, or agencies that improve or protect an aquatic ecosystem in Tennessee
• Effectiveness in the long-term protection and enhancement of the aquatic ecosystem
• Impact to the biological integrity and diversity of the aquatic ecosystem
• Integrated effort relating to adjacent land use

2008 Winner of Aquatic Resource Preservation

Winner – Tennessee Aquarium Research Institute – Saving the Sturgeon
Tennessee River Watershed from Knoxville to Chattanooga

In 2007, Saving the Sturgeon reached several new milestones. More than 60,000 Lake Sturgeon were released into the Tennessee River Watershed and monitored as far south as Alabama. New partners in the sturgeon conservation effort include Knoxville Girl Scout troops, East Tennessee fishermen, and Gap Creek Elementary classes. Educational efforts were expanded through these partnerships by distributing wallet-size educational cards to fishermen at time of licensing, developing a coloring book for Grades K-2 about Lake Sturgeon conservation efforts, and by engaging students to help with sturgeon releases near their school. The Tennessee Aquarium Research Institute also began monitoring released sturgeon with sonic tags and using an endoscope and anesthesia vaporizer to determine gender of released fish to enhance reproductive success.