Report Dead Atlantic Sturgeon
June 13, 2012
Riverkeeper Team
The Atlantic sturgeon, the icon of the Hudson River estuary, was recently declared a federal endangered species. Recently, Riverkeeper has received reports from citizen watchdogs after they discovered Atlantic sturgeon dead. If you find a dead sturgeon, please take down the following information and report it to the Department of Environmental Conservation's Hudson River Fisheries Unit via email at hudsonriverfish@dec.ny.gov. Then call DEC fisheries staff at 845-256-3071 and/or 845-256-3073.
- Specific location where fish was found.
- Condition of the fish. Note if it is badly decayed or freshly killed.
- Signs of trauma, and where the signs of trauma appear on the fish.- Length of fish, from nose to tip of upper tail fin (estimate length if you can't measure).
- Look for external tags affixed for scientific research, usually a yellow streamer at or near the base of the dorsal fin. Take note of any writing on the tags.
- Check the left pelvic fin. If it is clipped, it may have been marked by scientists for research.
- Take a picture of the entire fish.
- Take pictures of any injuries.
- Take a picture of the head and mouth, from below. (This will allow for proper identification of the species.)
- Leave the fish leave where it was found. Possession of endangered species is not allowed.