Massachusetts Waters to Get Endangered/Threatened Sturgeon Signs

There are 27 species of sturgeon. Some date back to the Early Jurassic period of 175 to 200 million years ago. Two species, Acipenseridae naccarii and Acipenseridae dabryanus, are likely extinct in the wild, and one (Pseudoscaphirhynchus fedtschenkoi) is believed to be entirely extinct.

Sturgeon are long-lived fish that mature late. They are also a large fish, with the record being a 23’, 1570 pound specimen caught in 1827 from the Volga estuary in Russia. Most sturgeon are anadromous, migrating upstream to spawn, while spending most of their time in saltwater estuaries.

We don’t know nearly what we need to about sturgeon in regard to their numbers, habits, and habitat. Native to New England, shortnose sturgeon are federally Endangered, and Atlantic sturgeon are Threatened.

As a bottom-feeder, sturgeon are sometimes accidentally caught by anglers in rivers and estuaries. This led NFC to reach out to NOAA Fisheries and several New England state marine resources agencies to develop an informational sign to let anglers know what is expected of them.

The first signs to be posted will be in Massachusetts on the Connecticut River and Merrimack River, as well as the lower Ipswich River. Special thanks to MA NFC chair Bob Dalton and MA NFC board member Kyle White for making this happen.

Part of a multi-chapter project, Maine will be next with the Androscoggin, Kennebec, Penobscot and Piscataqua as the targeted rivers. Connecticut and New Hampshire are working to determine what should be done where as well.