Supporting Interstate Conservation of Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser o. oxyrinchus) Using Genetics, Telemetry, and Side-scan Sonar
USGS scientists are using innovative combinations of telemetry, genetics, and side-scan Sonar to support conservation of endangered Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser o. oxyrinchus).
What is the issue?
Although Atlantic sturgeon were once abundant and supported important fisheries, overexploitation and habitat loss led to population crashes and listing under the Endangered Species Act. While U.S.-regulated fisheries for Atlantic sturgeon stopped in the 1990s, numerous threats continue to impact populations. Information on the ecology of the species and status of populations is needed to minimize conflict with human activities and track recovery progress.
What is at stake?
Atlantic sturgeon often migrate over vast areas, placing them into conflict with human activities far from their home river. To support conservation, managers need to know when and where conflicts are likely to occur. Estimates of population status are critical to guide management actions and understand whether conservation strategies are working.
What is our approach?
- USGS uses genetic assignment testing and telemetry to understand when and where sturgeon occur, which helps assess the impacts of human activities on specific stocks.
- USGS scientists have developed new tools that leverage side-scan Sonar, telemetry, and genetics, including a federal tissue repository to estimate the abundance of sturgeon. These tools provide insight into the status of specific populations and are also used by other research groups to assess additional populations of Atlantic sturgeon, including those previously unknown.
- USGS scientists support efforts to assess the status of populations through the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
What are the benefits?
USGS research provides key insights into the ecology of Atlantic sturgeon and the status of populations, allowing us to understand the impacts of human activities and track recovery progress. This information is used by the National Oceanic Atmosphere Association’s National Marine Fisheries Service to support consultations under the Endangered Species Act for important human activities that may impact sturgeon, such as dredging, commercial fishing, and marine construction.
USGS scientists are using innovative combinations of telemetry, genetics, and side-scan Sonar to support conservation of endangered Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser o. oxyrinchus).
What is the issue?
Although Atlantic sturgeon were once abundant and supported important fisheries, overexploitation and habitat loss led to population crashes and listing under the Endangered Species Act. While U.S.-regulated fisheries for Atlantic sturgeon stopped in the 1990s, numerous threats continue to impact populations. Information on the ecology of the species and status of populations is needed to minimize conflict with human activities and track recovery progress.
What is at stake?
Atlantic sturgeon often migrate over vast areas, placing them into conflict with human activities far from their home river. To support conservation, managers need to know when and where conflicts are likely to occur. Estimates of population status are critical to guide management actions and understand whether conservation strategies are working.
What is our approach?
- USGS uses genetic assignment testing and telemetry to understand when and where sturgeon occur, which helps assess the impacts of human activities on specific stocks.
- USGS scientists have developed new tools that leverage side-scan Sonar, telemetry, and genetics, including a federal tissue repository to estimate the abundance of sturgeon. These tools provide insight into the status of specific populations and are also used by other research groups to assess additional populations of Atlantic sturgeon, including those previously unknown.
- USGS scientists support efforts to assess the status of populations through the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
What are the benefits?
USGS research provides key insights into the ecology of Atlantic sturgeon and the status of populations, allowing us to understand the impacts of human activities and track recovery progress. This information is used by the National Oceanic Atmosphere Association’s National Marine Fisheries Service to support consultations under the Endangered Species Act for important human activities that may impact sturgeon, such as dredging, commercial fishing, and marine construction.