Green sturgeon genetic analysis

***NOAA'S ACQUISITION & GRANTS OFFICE, WESTERN ACQUISITION DIVISION-BOULDER, NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE (NMFS), WEST COAST REGIONAL OFFICE (WCR), INTENDS TO NEGOTIATE, ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS, UNDER AUTHORITY OF FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DAVIS (UCD) OUT OF DAVIS, CA FOR GENETIC ANALYSIS OF ADULT AND JUVENILE NORTH AMERICAN GREEN STURGEON.

***The requirement is to analyze genetic tissue samples collected from green sturgeon throughout the species’ range, to assign each sample/fish to a distinct population segment (DPS). The genetic tissue samples have been collected by researchers throughout the west coast of North American for various studies evaluating green sturgeon habitat use, migratory patterns, spawning and rearing, and their susceptibility to threats such as fisheries bycatch and entrainment. The analysis of these genetic samples will allow researchers to evaluate their results by DPS and understand the life history and behavior of the Southern DPS, which is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), compared with the Northern DPS, which is not listed under the ESA. This work will inform PRD’s assessment of threats to the threatened Southern DPS and implementation of protections and recovery actions.  

The University of California, Davis (UCD), is one of only a few entities that has conducted genetic analysis of green sturgeon tissue samples. Of those entities, the UCD lab is the only entity that has established partnerships with researchers throughout the species’ range, allowing them to collaborate and gain access to the tissue samples collected from green sturgeon and the associated data. The researchers who currently hold green sturgeon tissue samples have agreed to provide the samples to the UCD LAB for genetic analysis. This level of trust and collaboration between the researchers and the UCD lab is essential for conducting the genetic analysis and would take years to develop for other entities.

The UCD lab is currently the only entity with the capability to carry out the genetic analysis. genetic analysis of green sturgeon samples for DPS assignment requires a highly specialized process as well as expertise to properly interpret the results. Currently, the UCD lab is one of only two entities that is set up to carry out this highly specialized process and that has the expertise to interpret the results.  The UCD lab is the only entity that currently has the personnel, time, resources, and collaborations with researchers to conduct the genetic analysis. The only other entity that has both the lab set up and expertise is the NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center’s Santa Cruz Lab; however, they have stated that they do not have the personnel, time, or resources to conduct the analysis, nor have they established collaborations with researchers to obtain the genetic samples for the analysis. Other entities would need years to develop the expertise, lab set up, and collaborations to conduct the genetic analysis, delaying the work and the application of results to green sturgeon recovery.**

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