Atlantic Sturgeon Facts

 

Atlantic Sturgeon

Anglers sometimes encounter strange creatures in the rivers, streams, and backwaters of the Atlantic Coast. From coastal bays to shallow streams, Atlantic sturgeon are rarely seen but sometimes present.

Sturgeon Facts

Fossil records of sturgeon date back to the Cretaceous period. There are 25 different species of sturgeon worldwide.

Nine species of sturgeon are listed as either threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. They are considered one of the world’s most endangered groups of species.

There are five distinct population segments of Atlantic sturgeon in the United States. Four of these segments are considered endangered. The other is considered threatened.

Adult Atlantic sturgeon typically reach lengths of six to eight feet and weigh 200 pounds or more. In Canada, individuals up to 14 feet long and 800 pounds have been recorded.

The Atlantic sturgeon can be distinguished from other sturgeon species by its long, narrow snout, relatively small mouth, and four barbels. Adults are olive- green to blue-black above, with white undersides.

Atlantic sturgeon can live 60 years or more. Sturgeons have declined due to overfishing, water pollution, vessel strikes, habitat loss, and other factors.

Atlantic sturgeon are listed as endangered or threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in multiple coastal estuaries.

Atlantic Sturgeon restoration programs have been launched, although much work remains.

Atlantic sturgeon have anadromous lifestyles. Adult sturgeon migrate up rivers to spawn in areas with hard bottoms.

After hatching, young sturgeon live in freshwater rivers for several years. Eventually, juvenile fish migrate out to sea.

Researchers are learning more about Atlantic sturgeon by tracking their movements using acoustic telemetry. Telemetry uses sound to relay information across open space. Scientists surgically insert special sound-emitting tags.

Kootenai River White Sturgeon

A recent study by the U.S. Geological Survey found that the eggs of endangered Kootenai River white sturgeon are less likely to hatch on some of the surfaces that have been made more common by human changes on the river.

The white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) was once common in much of North America. White sturgeon in Idaho and Montana’s Kootenai River basin were listed as endangered in 1994.

The publication, "Hatch Success of White Sturgeon Embryos Incubated on Various Substrates," USGS Report Series 2013-5180, by Michael J. Parsley and Eric Kofoot, is available online.

source: U.S. Geological Survey