Photo by Brett Albanese (Ga DNR) CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Latin Name: Acipenser oxyrinchus
Species: Fish
Conservation Status: S1 - Critically Imperiled
Atlantic sturgeon are large prehistoric fish that have existed for 120 million years. They can measure up to 16 feet long and weigh up to 800 lbs, and they are grey without any scales. Instead, they have five rows of dermal scutes which act as bony plates of armor under their skin. They have a protruding snout with four sensory barbels that help them detect their surroundings. Their toothless mouths are on the underside of their bodies for suctioning food off the seafloor and riverbeds.
Range & Habitat (map)
Atlantic sturgeon inhabit the East Coast of North America, excluding Central America. They range from the Canadian province Newfoundland and Labrador to the Gulf Coast of Florida. Sturgeon primarily live in saltwater near the shore, but they migrate upstream and into freshwater rivers to spawn.
Diet
Atlantic sturgeon have no teeth and mouths on the underside of their bodies for suction. They feed on benthic (bottom-dwelling) creatures such as shrimp, crabs, brachiopods, worms, and occasionally small fish.
Life History
Atlantic sturgeon are anadromous, meaning they live in coastal waters but migrate to freshwater for spawning. Once a female lays her 400 thousand to two million eggs, larvae will emerge and drift downstream into brackish water. Juveniles can spend the first five years of their life living in protected inshore waters like salt marshes. They are slow growing, only reaching maturity after 10-30 years, but they can live for up to 60.
Significance
Atlantic sturgeon are indicators of water quality in rivers, as they require clean water to spawn and survive. Sturgeon use the Savannah, Combahee, and Edisto Rivers as spawning sites and the lower Port Royal Sound as a nursery. Although juveniles have been caught in the Sound, sturgeon populations no longer use the Coosawatchie or Broad Rivers to spawn. Historically, sturgeon have been an important food source for many, especially Native Americans. They also hold economic value, as some species are farmed for caviar.
Threats & How You Can Help
Atlantic sturgeon are considered endangered in South Carolina and in many other states along the East Coast. The species’ main threat is bycatch, which occurs when unwanted species are caught during commercial fishing. Additionally, structures like dams and lochs cut off vital spawning habitats. Poaching sturgeon for caviar is a lesser threat, however, as eggs are now commonly obtained from farm-raised sturgeon. Due to their endangered status, steps are being taken monitor bycatch and restore access to habitats like the Savannah River. If you catch a sturgeon, it is advised to keep the fish in the water and remove the hook (or cut the line) for a safe release. If the fish is removed from the water, use wet hands when handling. These large fish are also harmed by boat strikes, so consider boating slowly in areas they may inhabit.
Additional Info
Atlantic sturgeon are currently listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Although populations have been declining, the 28 living species of sturgeon belong to the family Acipenseridae, which existed 120 million years ago during the cretaceous period (when the Tyrannosaurus rex walked the earth!).