Far-Flung Sturgeon Migration Documented in Tracking Survey in Atlantic

A new study provides detailed evidence of just how far the Atlantic sturgeon travels during its migrations, with satellite tags showing that sturgeon spawning in the Hudson River migrate as far south as Georgia and as far north as Nova Scotia. The movements of the giant fish were tracked using tags that were affixed to the sturgeon for months before automatically breaking free and floating to the surface, where they were retrieved by researchers. Scientists at the State University of New York at Stony Brook said the new data, which will be published in an article in the journal Journal of Applied Ichthyology, provide critical insight into the oceanic phase of the lives of the fish and illustrate the importance of addressing regional threats to the species, in addition to local threats in spawning grounds. Earlier this week the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) proposed that five species of sturgeon — including the Atlantic sturgeon — be listed as endangered or threatened. A recent federal review found that sturgeon face a variety of threats, including unintended catch by fishermen, vessel strikes, and pollution in spawning areas.