Atlantic Sturgeon | NOAA Fisheries

Skip to main content Species Directory Atlantic Sturgeon Overview Conservation & Management Science Resources Atlantic sturgeon live in rivers and coastal waters from Maine to Florida. Hatched in freshwater rivers, Atlantic sturgeon head to sea as juveniles and return to their birthplace to spawn, or lay eggs, as adults. Learn more about Atlantic sturgeon.

Atlantic Sturgeon

Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus

Protected Status

ESA Endangered Carolina DPS Chesapeake Bay DPS New York Bight DPS South Atlantic DPS ESA Threatened Gulf of Maine DPS CITES Appendix II Throughout Its Range

Quick Facts

Weight Up to 800 pounds Length Up to 14 feet Lifespan Up to 60 years Threats Entanglement in fishing gear, Habitat degradation, Habitat impediments, Vessel strikes, Changing Environmental Conditions Region New England/Mid-Atlantic, Southeast Atlantic sturgeon swimming. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

Atlantic sturgeon swimming. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

About the Species

Atlantic sturgeon swimming. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

Atlantic sturgeon swimming. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

Atlantic sturgeon live in rivers and coastal waters from Canada to Florida. Hatched in the freshwater of rivers, Atlantic sturgeon transition to the marine environment, and return to their birthplace to spawn, or lay eggs, when they reach adulthood.

The Atlantic sturgeon has five rows of bony plates known as scutes that run along its body and a snout with four slender, soft tissue projections called barbels in front of its mouth. In addition, the heterocercal tail is like a shark’s where one side, or lobe, is larger than the other. All of these features give the fish its unique look.

Atlantic sturgeon are slow-growing and late-maturing, and have been recorded to reach up to 14 feet in length and up to 60 years of age.

Indigenous tribes have harvested Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon for their meat and eggs (roe) beginning some 4,000 years ago, and sturgeon are credited as the primary food source that saved the Jamestown settlers in 1607. Atlantic sturgeon were once found in great abundance, but their populations have declined greatly due to overfishing and habitat loss. Atlantic sturgeon were prized for their eggs, which were valued as high-quality caviar. During the late 1800s, people flocked to the eastern United States in search of caviar riches from the sturgeon fishery, known as the “Black Gold Rush.” By the beginning of the 1900s, sturgeon populations had declined drastically and continued to decline until the coastwide moratorium. However, historical landings records generally failed to differentiate between Atlantic sturgeon and the smaller shortnose sturgeon, making it difficult to determine historical trends in abundance for populations of either species.

Today, all five U.S. Atlantic sturgeon distinct population segments are listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The populations in Canada are not protected species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The primary threats currently facing Atlantic sturgeon are entanglement in fishing gear, habitat degradation, habitat impediments, such as dams and other barriers, vessel strikes, and changing environmental conditions.

NOAA Fisheries and our partners are dedicated to conserving and rebuilding Atlantic sturgeon populations along the East Coast. We use a variety of innovative techniques to study these endangered fish, monitor existing and emerging threats, and to fill critical data gaps. Working closely with our partners, these efforts bring us closer to our goal of recovering Atlantic sturgeon populations.

Population Status

The historical and current range of Atlantic sturgeon includes major estuaries, river systems, and marine waters from Canada to Florida. While still found throughout their historical range, some spawning populations have likely been extirpated and the remainder are small and face on-going threats.

Learn more about the population estimates for Atlantic sturgeon

Atlantic sturgeon were listed under the ESA in 2012 as five distinct population segments. A distinct population segment is the smallest division of a species permitted to be protected under the ESA. Atlantic sturgeon that hatch out in Gulf of Maine rivers are listed as threatened, and those that hatch out in other U.S. rivers are listed as endangered. Atlantic sturgeon that hatch out in Canadian rivers are not listed as protected species under the ESA but are protected in Canadian waters under Canada’s Species At Risk Act.

Appearance

Atlantic sturgeon can grow to approximately 14 feet long and can weigh up to 800 pounds. They are bluish-black or olive brown dorsally (on their back) with paler sides and a white belly. They have five major rows of dermal "scutes,” or bony plates, along the length of their body.

Atlantic sturgeon are similar in appearance to shortnose sturgeon but can be distinguished by their larger size, smaller mouth, different snout shape, and tail scute pattern.

Behavior and Diet

An Atlantic sturgeon typically spawns in the same river in which it hatched. Water temperature plays a role in the timing of spawning. In rivers from Georgia to the Chesapeake Bay, scientists have confirmed that adult sturgeon spawn during the late summer and fall as water temperatures decline. In some of these rivers, a separate Atlantic sturgeon population spawns in the spring before water temperatures rise for the summer. In rivers from Delaware to Canada, adults spawn in the spring and early summer. There is no evidence of late summer or early fall spawning in these more northern rivers.

After spawning, males in northern rivers may remain in the river or lower estuary until the fall; females typically exit the rivers within 4 to 6 weeks after spawning. In southern rivers, spawning behavior tends to be specific to a given river and season. However, the general pattern for spring spawning migrations is for males to begin moving upstream to the spawning sites in February to March as waters begin to warm. Males may remain near the spawning grounds for several days to weeks. Females tend to follow days or weeks later. Fall spawning males tend to begin spawning runs in August to September as water temperatures decline with females following thereafter. In both fall and spring spawning seasons, once spawning is complete both sexes tend to leave the spawning grounds quickly, with many animals leaving the river system completely.

Upon hatching, larvae hide along the bottom and drift downstream until they reach brackish waters where they may reside for 1 to 5 years before moving into nearshore coastal waters. Juvenile fish can leave their natal rivers as early as 1 year of age. Tagging data indicate that these immature Atlantic sturgeon travel widely once they leave their birth rivers.So, juvenile aggregations within a river may be composed of two or more different natal populations of fish.

Atlantic sturgeon are bottom feeders. They typically consume invertebrates, such as crustaceans, worms, and mollusks, and bottom-dwelling fish, such as sand lance.

Where They Live

Historically, Atlantic sturgeon ranged along the Canadian and U.S. Atlantic Coast from Labrador to Florida. The abundance of natal populations is much less than historical levels and some populations have likely been extirpated. Those that remain have the same basic traits of all anadromous fish. Atlantic sturgeon eggs are spawned in freshwater of a river, upon hatching the fish live in the river for at least several months before migrating to the sea and, upon reaching adulthood, back again to the same freshwater to spawn. Tagging data indicate that immature Atlantic sturgeon travel widely up and down the East Coast and as far as Iceland when they are at sea.

Lifespan & Reproduction

Atlantic sturgeon growth and lifespan is correlated with water temperature. In general, the colder the water in which they live, the slower their growth, the later their age to maturity, and the longer their lifespan. For example, Atlantic sturgeon from the Saint Lawrence River population mature at 22 to 34 years old and they live up to 60 years. Atlantic sturgeon from the South Carolina populations mature at 5 to 19 years of age and likely live only 25 to 30 years.

Atlantic sturgeon spawning intervals range from 1 to 5 years for males and 2 to 5 years for females, with males returning almost every year and females usually returning every other year or every third year. Female egg production correlates with age and body size, and ranges from 400,000 to 2 million eggs. Atlantic sturgeon take approximately 3 to 10 times longer than other bony fish species to reach 50 percent of their maximum lifetime egg production. In the Hudson River, females reach 50 percent of their maximum lifetime egg production at approximately 29 years. Fish from more southern rivers reach this production metric at an earlier age and fish from Maine and Canada reach it at a later age.

Threats

The most significant threats to Atlantic sturgeon are unintended catch (bycatch) in some commercial fisheries, dams that block access to spawning areas, poor water quality (which harms development of sturgeon offspring), dredging of spawning areas, water withdrawals from rivers, vessel strikes, and changing environmental conditions.

Fisheries Interactions and Bycatch

Bycatch of Atlantic sturgeon can occur in multiple fisheries including those that use gillnets, pound nets, or trawls. The likelihood of bycatch is influenced by environmental factors, the abundance of Atlantic sturgeon in the fishing area, and the gear characteristics (e.g., mesh size). The likelihood of sturgeon survival in the gear is influenced by factors such as the water temperature and the length of time that the sturgeon is caught in the gear with survivals more likely in cooler waters. Fisheries conducted within rivers where Atlantic sturgeon spawn may intercept Atlantic sturgeon of any life stage, while fisheries conducted in the nearshore and ocean waters are more likely to capture older juveniles and adults.

Learn more about fishing gear and risks to protected species

Habitat Degradation

Atlantic sturgeon habitat can be disrupted, degraded, or lost because of various human activities, such as dredging, damming, and withdrawing water. Groundwater pumping and dredging has resulted in saltwater intrusion, and industrialization and development has impacted sediments and water quality through the introduction of nutrients and other contaminants. Sturgeon need hard bottom substrates in freshwater reaches for successful spawning, so any activity that affects those features directly (e.g., dredging) or indirectly (e.g., sedimentation or saltwater intrusion) would affect Atlantic sturgeon habitat. All life stages of Atlantic sturgeon also require sufficient water quantities and qualities, which are often impacted by the activities above.

Habitat Impediments

Locks and dams on the Cape Fear River, North Carolina; the Santee-Cooper rivers, South Carolina; Savannah River, South Carolina/Georgia impede access to upstream spawning habitat. Dam removal projects on the Penobscot River, Maine and Rappahannock River, Virginia, have increased accessibility to upstream habitats.

Vessel Strikes

Atlantic sturgeon can be struck by boats or by the blades of boats’ propellers. They are struck and killed by large commercial vessels as well as smaller vessels such as recreational vessels throughout their range. The risk of injury and mortality can be high in areas with high ship traffic, including the Hudson, Delaware, and James rivers. Information is emerging that suggests vessel strikes are also a threat to Atlantic sturgeon in the Savannah, Cooper, and Cape Fear rivers. We do not know how many sturgeon are struck by vessels or how many sturgeon are struck and survive their injuries.

Changing Environmental Conditions

A changing environment poses several risks to the Atlantic sturgeon populations, including saltwater intrusion into rivers where the development of Atlantic sturgeon larvae relies upon very low salinity waters. Changes in precipitation and water temperature may also affect riverine habitat and alter spawning cues. For example, reduced river flows can increase the concentration of nutrients and toxic chemicals due to a reduced flushing rate and decrease dissolved oxygen concentrations in surface waters, particularly when combined with warmer water temperatures. Both of these can reduce survival of juveniles. A warmer, wetter climate could ameliorate poor water quality conditions in places where human-caused concentrations of nutrients and pollutants currently degrade water quality. However, significantly higher river flows could impede spawning by affecting spawning cues or making traversing up river too difficult to attempt. A warming ocean can also alter the growth rates of Atlantic sturgeon which in turn influence age to maturity and lifespan. Given the Atlantic sturgeon’s strong affinity to return to its natal river to spawn, a population will likely continue to return to its spawning river even when a changing environment results in poor offspring survival in that river.

Learn more about how to report an injured or dead sturgeon

Scientific Classification

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Actinopterygii
Order	Acipenseriformes
Family	Acipenseridae
Genus	Acipenser
Species	oxyrinchus

Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 11/13/2025

What We Do

Conservation & Management

We are committed to the protection and recovery of the Atlantic sturgeon through implementation of conservation, management, and enforcement measures. Our work includes:

• Preserving existing habitat
• Improving existing habitat and restoring access to historical habitat (e.g., dam removals)
• Monitoring bycatch and DPS recovery
• Supporting U.S. FWS and state-run captive breeding and research programs
• Educating the public

Learn more about our conservation efforts

Science

We directly support the work of our conservation partners to gain understanding of the biology behavior, and ecology of the Atlantic sturgeon. The results are used to inform management decisions and enhance recovery efforts for this imperiled species. Our work includes:

• Identifying important habitats for each DPS and identifying when the DPS is using them
• Advancing the acquisition of new information, including priority information for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic sturgeon stock assessments
• Tracking individuals over time to monitor important behaviors
• Studying genetic characteristics and relationships among individuals and populations

Learn more about our research

How You Can Help

Know the Law Before You Fish

It is illegal to fish for, catch, or keep sturgeon—including Atlantic, Shortnose, and Gulf. If you accidently hook a sturgeon, be prepared to catch and release with care.

Report a Stranded, Injured, or Dead Sturgeon

If you find a stranded, injured, or dead sturgeon, please report it to NOAA Fisheries at (978) 281-9328 or in the Southeast at (844) STURG-911 or (844) 788-7491, or send us an email at [email protected].

Report a Violation

Call the NOAA Fisheries Enforcement Hotline at (800) 853-1964 to report a federal marine resource violation. This hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for anyone in the United States.

You may also contact your closest NOAA Office of Law Enforcement field office during regular business hours.

Learn About Bycatch

One of the main threats to marine animals is entanglement in fishing gear, especially gillnets. Fishermen sometimes catch and discard animals they do not want, cannot sell, or are not allowed to keep. This is collectively known as bycatch.

Learn more about bycatch

Featured News

A newly built bridge over a former culvert site will allow fish to migrate freely. Credit: The Nature Conservancy Feature Story

Reconnecting Habitat Aids Migratory Fish on the Roanoke River

Southeast Fishery biologists Tim Cwalinski from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (left) and Brett Fessell from the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (right ) cradle a 140-plus pound female lake sturgeon sampled during spring spawning surveys in the Black River, Cheboygan County. Credit: Grand Traverse Band Restoration Section. Feature Story

Michigan Tribe to Restore Fish Passage for Native Great Lakes Fish Species

New England/Mid-Atlantic A coho salmon swims up the Sol Duc river on the Olympic Peninsula. Credit: Adobe Stock. Feature Story

NOAA Recommends $240 Million in Fish Passage Funding under Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act

National Eric Hutchins catches an American eel for an educational event about migratory fish. Credit: Samuel Coulbourn. Feature Story

Celebrating a NOAA Champion for Migratory Fish

New England/Mid-Atlantic View More News

Related Species

Shortnose Sturgeon

Gulf Sturgeon

Green Sturgeon

European Sturgeon

Management Overview

The Atlantic sturgeon New York Bight distinct population segment (DPS), Chesapeake Bay DPS, Carolina DPS, and Southern Atlantic DPS are listed as endangered and the Gulf of Maine DPS is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

Additionally, the Atlantic sturgeon is listed under:

• Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

Recovery Planning and Implementation

Recovery Outline

NOAA Fisheries developed a recovery outline to commence the recovery planning process for Atlantic sturgeon. The outline is meant to serve as an interim guidance document to direct recovery efforts, including recovery planning, for the endangered New York Bight, Chesapeake Bay, Carolina, and South Atlantic DPSs of the Atlantic sturgeon and the threatened Gulf of Maine DPS until a full recovery plan is developed and approved.

Read the recovery outline

Species Recovery Contacts

• Carolina and South Atlantic DPSs: Andrew Herndon
• Gulf of Maine, New York Bight, and Chesapeake Bay DPSs: Lynn Lankshear

Critical Habitat Designation

When a species is listed under the ESA, NOAA Fisheries evaluates and identifies whether any areas meet the definition of critical habitat. Those areas may be designated as critical habitat through a rulemaking process. The designation of an area as critical habitat does not create a closed area, marine protected area, refuge, wilderness reserve, preservation, or other conservation area; nor does the designation affect land ownership. Federal agencies that undertake, fund, or permit activities that may affect these designated critical habitat areas are required to consult with NOAA Fisheries to ensure that their actions do not adversely modify or destroy designated critical habitat.

We designated critical habitat for each of the five listed DPSs in 2017. The critical habitats include spawning and rearing areas and essential water quality and water quantity features necessary for Atlantic sturgeon survival.

• Maps of Designated Critical Habitat Rivers for the Gulf of Maine, New York Bight, and Chesapeake Bay DPSs
• Maps of Designated Critical Habitat Rivers for the Carolina and South Atlantic DPSs

Image

Conservation Efforts

Restoring Habitat and Fish Passage

Sturgeon and other migrating fish, such as salmon, shad, and alewives, need access to freshwater habitat for spawning and rearing. In the Southeast, barriers have had serious impacts on Atlantic sturgeon populations where the fish cannot pass the dams that block access to the most suitable, historic, spawning habitat. In those rivers, Atlantic sturgeon must spawn in less suitable habitat below a dam which can reduce the survival of eggs and larvae. The control of water in a river system as a result of dam operations can also have negative impacts on habitat used for spawning or foraging that is downriver of a dam. Providing ways for sturgeon to move past a dam in both directions, improving water flow from dams, and removing obsolete dams can greatly improve Atlantic sturgeon access to and use of quality habitat. NOAA Fisheries works with conservation organizations, energy companies, states, tribes, and citizens to evaluate barriers and improve fish passage, and to improve the water quality and quantity downriver of a barrier.

Learn more about improving fish passage

The Penobscot River—New England’s second largest river—has been designated a NOAA Habitat Focus Area, as human activities have caused adverse impacts to the watershed. Recovery of endangered and threatened Atlantic sturgeon, shortnose sturgeon, and Atlantic salmon are a key objective of the ongoing habitat improvement efforts.

Learn more about the Penobscot River Habitat Focus Area

Providing Captive Breeding Programs

Some Atlantic sturgeon are bred and held in captivity at research facilities, in accordance with specific permits. These captive-bred animals can provide important insight into the physical, chemical, and biological parameters necessary for the optimal growth, survival, and reproduction of Atlantic sturgeon in the wild. Some captive-bred animals are also used in permanent educational displays that promote public awareness of the plight of the species.

Educating the Public

Everyone can contribute to recovering this amazing species. Our biologists work with the public, conservation groups, and scientists to share information about the movements, behavior, and threats to Atlantic and shortnose sturgeons along the East Coast.

Learn more about the SCUTES program

Cooperating Internationally

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) protects Atlantic sturgeon and other sturgeons by regulating international trade in listed species of plants and animals.

Key Actions and Documents

Actions & Documents Incidental Take

90-Day Finding on a Petition to List the Delaware River Atlantic Sturgeon Population as an Endangered Distinct Population Segment

We, NOAA Fisheries, announce our 90-day finding on a petition to list the Delaware River population of Atlantic sturgeon as an endangered distinct population segment (DPS) of Atlantic sturgeon under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and to designate…

• 90-Day Finding (89 FR 47089, 5/31/2024)

• Petition (2023)

Notice, New England/Mid-Atlantic Published May 31, 2024

Incidental Take Permit to the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth School for Marine Science and Technology (Sea Turtles and Sturgeon)

The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth School for Marine Science and Technology has been issued a permit for the incidental take of Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), leatherback (Dermochelys…

• Availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment; request for comments (90 FR 1…
• Re-opening of public comment period (88 FR 55668, 08/16/2023)
• Receipt of application (88 FR 43082, 07/06/2023)

• Permit No. 27490 (PDF, 14 pages)
• Permit Application (PDF, 54 pages)
• Final EA
• Biological Opinion

Notice, New England/Mid-Atlantic Published January 8, 2025

5-Year Review for the New York Bight, Chesapeake Bay, and Gulf of Maine Distinct Population Segments of Atlantic Sturgeon

In 2018, NOAA Fisheries announced the initiation of a 5-year review for the threatened Gulf of Maine distinct population segment (DPS) of Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus), the endangered New York Bight DPS of Atlantic sturgeon, the…

• Notice of initiation of 5-year review; request for information (83 FR 11731, Ma…

• Gulf of Maine DPS 5-Year Review (2022)
• New York Bight DPS 5-Year Review (2022)
• Chesapeake Bay DPS 5-Year Review (2022)

Notice, New England/Mid-Atlantic Published February 17, 2022

Critical Habitat Designation for Atlantic Sturgeon

We, NOAA Fisheries, are issuing this final rule to designate critical habitat for the threatened Gulf of Maine distinct population segment (DPS) of Atlantic sturgeon, the endangered New York Bight DPS of Atlantic sturgeon, the endangered Chesapeake Bay…

• Final Critical Habitat Designation
• Correction to Proposed Critical Habitat Designation for the Carolina and South …
• Proposed Critical Habitat Designation for the Gulf of Maine, New York Bight, an…
• Proposed Critical Habitat Designation for the Carolina and South Atlantic DPSs

• Atlantic Sturgeon Critical Habitat Map and GIS Data
• Impacts Analysis of Critical Habitat Designation for the Carolina and South Atl…
• Designation of Critical Habitat for the Gulf of Maine, New York Bight, and Ches…

Final Rule, New England/Mid-Atlantic Southeast Effective September 18, 2017

• Current page 1
• Page 2
• Last »
• Next

Incidental Take Permit to Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc

Incidental Take Permit to Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc

• Issuance of permit (89 FR 63414, 08/05/2024)
• Receipt of application (88 FR 67249, 09/29/2023)

Notice, New England/Mid-Atlantic Published 08/05/2024

Incidental Take Permit to Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Incidental Take Permit to Georgia Department of Natural Resources

• Issuance of permit (89 FR 56343, 07/09/2024)
• Receipt of application (88 FR 56804, 08/21/2023)

Notice, Southeast Published 07/09/2024

Incidental Take Permit to North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (Sea Turtles and Sturgeon)

Incidental Take Permit to North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (Sea Turtles and Sturgeon)

• Notice; Issuance of Permit (89 FR 82573, 10/11/2024)
• Notice of Availability - Draft Environmental Assessment (88 FR 54303, 08/10/202…
• Correction to Receipt of Application (88 FR 859, 01/05/2023)
• Receipt of application (87 FR 78659, 12/22/2022)

Notice, Southeast Published 10/02/2024

Incidental Take Permit to Midwest Biodiversity Institute

Incidental Take Permit to Midwest Biodiversity Institute

• Notice of Issuance (85 FR 83522, 12/22/2020)
• Receipt of Application (85 FR 21413, April 17, 2020)

Notice, New England/Mid-Atlantic Published 12/22/2020

• Current page 1
• Page 2
• Last »
• Next

More Information

• Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission: Atlantic Sturgeon
• 2011 Sturgeon Workshop
• 2016 Atlantic and Shortnose Sturgeon Research and Management Workshop
• Endangered Species Permits and Authorizations

Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 11/13/2025

Science Overview

NOAA Fisheries conducts or supports research on the biology, behavior, and ecology of the Atlantic sturgeon. This research informs management decisions and enhances recovery efforts for endangered and threatened Atlantic sturgeon populations.

Tagging and Tracking

Scientists are using tagging techniques to learn about the migration patterns of Atlantic sturgeon and identify important juvenile habitats. Dart, passive integrated transponder (PIT), radio, satellite, pop off, and acoustic tags are commonly used types of tags. Tags, such as PIT tags and dart tags, allow for an individual fish to be identified by other researchers when it is captured. Acoustic and satellite telemetry tags provide researchers with data on where Atlantic sturgeon migrate, at what depths, and at what speeds.

Image

Genetics

Researchers take small fin clips from sturgeon they catch to better understand the genetic composition of the populations. Tissue samples from sturgeon spawning (releasing or depositing eggs) in a particular river can be taken and analyzed to create baselines of the unique genotypes (the genetic makeup of an individual) found in each spawning population. Those baselines allow sturgeon to be identified back to their natal river. For instance, Atlantic sturgeon that are accidentally captured or killed in non-research-related projects can be matched to the river where they were born using their genotype.

Genetic variation (“heterogeneity”) within the population can also be used to estimate the minimum number of spawning adults that would have been required to generate that level of heterogeneity. This information helps us learn more about the approximate number of successfully spawning adults, their natal river, and their family history. NOAA Fisheries, in cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey, has been maintaining stored tissue and DNA samples and records of Atlantic sturgeon, as well as shortnose sturgeon. The stored samples provide an opportunity to learn more about sturgeon as new techniques become available, such as identifying the sex and age of the fish.

Learn more about the Atlantic Coast Sturgeon Tissue Research Repository

NOAA Fisheries, in partnership with numerous federal and academic researchers, estimates and monitors effective population size of the spawning populations that have been adequately sampled. For Atlantic sturgeon, an effective population size of 100 is the suggested minimum that is required to limit the loss in total fitness from in-breeding depression and an effective population size of 1,000 is required to maintain evolutionary potential. Effective population sizes are not easily translated to actual abundance estimates, but they can provide a rough comparison between populations to better understand relative abundance and threats of inbreeding or extirpation. The most recent estimates of effective population size, from north to south are:

• St. Lawrence River - between 28 and 44 individuals
• St. John River - between 75 and 104 individuals
• Kennebec River - between 52 and 89 individuals
• Connecticut River - between 2 and 3 individuals
• Hudson River - between 138 and 176 individuals
• Delaware River - between 34 and 46 individuals
• James River - between 29 and 36 individuals
• York River - between 6 and 12 individuals
• Albemarle Sound (likely Roanoke River population) - between 16 and 21 individuals
• Edisto River - between 52 and 69 individuals
• Savannah River - between 99 and 288 individuals
• Ogeechee River - between 23 and 29 individuals
• Altamaha River - between 74 and 400 individuals
• Satilla River - between 18 and 23 individuals
• St. Marys River - between 1 and 2 individuals

Side Scan Sonar

Side scan sonar is a useful tool for identifying where aggregations of sturgeon occur and for estimating the overall abundance of sturgeon in a river system. New methods help researchers to rapidly and accurately count sturgeon images collected by side scan sonar so that larger areas can be surveyed.

Reducing Bycatch

We have funded research on new fishing gear configurations that maintain catch rates of the target species but limit bycatch of Atlantic sturgeon. For gill nets, using a raised footrope has shown promise for some fisheries. For trawls, turtle excluder devices are also effective at keeping Atlantic sturgeon out.

The likelihood of mortality of incidentally gill-netted Atlantic sturgeon appears to be related to water quality, how the net is set, and the length of time before the net is tended. Atlantic sturgeon incidentally captured in cooler waters have a greater likelihood of survival than those captured in warmer waters. Anchored gill nets (i.e., set on the bottom, as opposed to floating at the surface) tend to pose the greatest risk for mortality of Atlantic sturgeon, compared to other gill nets or types of gear. Proper handling of Atlantic sturgeon, particularly large sturgeon, also helps to reduce the likelihood of injury and post-release mortality.

Stock Assessment

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) completed a coastwide population assessment for Atlantic sturgeon in 2017 in which they concluded that there are some indications of increased abundance since the 1998 moratorium on fishing for Atlantic sturgeon in state waters. However, there was considerable uncertainty for whether or to what extent each DPS had increased in abundance because of the limited available information. The ASMFC completed an update to the assessment in 2024 with similar results. Our work supports the collection of new information to fill the data gaps.

Sturgeon Salvage Program

The Sturgeon Salvage Program maximizes the scientific use of shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon that are found dead in the wild and reported to us by the public. Our designated co-investigators examine the sturgeon and collect information that helps us to better understand how sturgeon are affected by threats in the environment. Maximizing the use of the opportunistically found dead sturgeon also reduces the need to capture and sample living sturgeon.

Research & Data

Fisheries Ecology in the Northeast

We study the relationship between marine life and their environment to support sustainable wild and farmed fisheries on the Northeast shelf, creating opportunities and benefits for the economy and ecosystem. New England/Mid-Atlantic

How Sea-Run Fish Connect Ecosystems

Our conceptual model investigates the ecological role of sea-run fish and the connections they make among different ecosystems. New England/Mid-Atlantic

Protected Species Gear Research Contract Reports

Publications by Northeast Fisheries Science Center personnel, contractors and collaborators working on gear modifications to protect endangered sea turtles and other protected marine species. October 24, 2022 - New England/Mid-Atlantic

Recovery Action Database

Tracks the implementation of recovery actions from Endangered Species Act (ESA) recovery plans. February 10, 2020 - Database , National View More

More Information

• Atlantic Sturgeon Research Techniques
• A Protocol for Use of Shortnose, Atlantic, Gulf, and Green Sturgeons
• Permits and Authorizations: Scientific Research and Enhancement

Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 11/13/2025

Documents

Document

2024 Atlantic Sturgeon Stock Assessment Update

The purpose of this assessment was to update the 2017 Atlantic Sturgeon Benchmark Stock Assessment…

New England/Mid-Atlantic Document

South Atlantic Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of Atlantic Sturgeon 5-Year Review

This document is the ESA 5-year review of the species based on the best available data.

Southeast Document

Carolina Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of Atlantic Sturgeon 5-Year Review

This document is the ESA 5-year review of the species based on the best available data.

Southeast Document

Action Plan to Reduce Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch in Federal Large Mesh Gillnet Fisheries

This Action Plan to Reduce Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch in Federal Large Mesh Gillnet Fisheries was…

New England/Mid-Atlantic More Documents

Data & Maps

Data

Recovery Action Database

Tracks the implementation of recovery actions from Endangered Species Act (ESA) recovery plans.

National Map

Atlantic Sturgeon Critical Habitat Map and GIS Data

Map and GIS data representing critical habitat for the conservation of endangered and threatened…

New England/Mid-Atlantic Southeast More Data More Maps

Research

Fisheries Ecology in the Northeast

We study the relationship between marine life and their environment to support sustainable wild and farmed fisheries on the Northeast shelf, creating opportunities and benefits for the economy and ecosystem.

New England/Mid-Atlantic More Research

Outreach & Education

Outreach Materials

Protected Marine Species Identification Guide Southeast United States

This guide is intended for use by mariners in the identification and reporting of threatened and…

Southeast Educational Materials

SCUTES: Students Collaborating to Undertake Tracking Efforts for Sturgeon

Lesson plans to help you instruct and inform your students about Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon.

New England/Mid-Atlantic Outreach Materials

Report a Sturgeon Sign

This sign is often posted near boat ramps, piers, docks, marinas, and waterfront parks. Signs may…

Southeast Outreach Materials

Atlantic Sturgeon Safe Handling and Release Guidelines

Atlantic sturgeon are protected by federal law due to their endangered status. If you accidentally…

New England/Mid-Atlantic Southeast More Outreach Materials More Educational Materials

Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 11/13/2025