ML083380619

SEIS Reference - Status of Fishery Resources Off the Northeastern U.S.: Atlantic and Shortnose Sturgeons

ML083380619
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Site:	Indian Point
Issue date:	12/03/2008
From:	Shepherd G US Dept of Commerce, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration
To:	Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
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- Spring Survey Links to Additional Information on Atlantic and Shortnose sturgeons NEFSC is not responsible for the content of external websites Definitions of Technical Terms Lineart images Fishes of the Gulf of Maine by Bigelow & Schroeder, 1953 ASMFC NMFS Office of Protected Resources Search NEFSC Publications for:

Atlantic sturgeon Shortnose sturgeon Turn Word Definitions On Status of Fishery Resources off the Northeaster NEFSC - Resource Evaluation and Assessment Division Revised December 2006 Atlantic and Shortnose sturgeons Atlantic (Acipenser oxyrhynchus)

Shortnose (Acipenser brevirostrum) by Gary Shepherd Figure 42.1 Statistical Areas Used Distribution, Biology and Management The Atlantic sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrhynchus, and the sho brevirostrum, are demersal, anadromous species distributed North America ( Figure 42.1 ). Both species occcur between F but the distribution of the Atlantic sturgeon extends furthe species migrate from the marine environment to freshwater t early summer, with these migrations occurring later in the water where the species co-occur, the shortnose sturgeon t earlier than the Atlantic sturgeon. Spawning generally occu rivers, below the fall line. Eggs are deposited on hard surface adhere for 4 to 6 days until hatching. Juvenile sturgeon rema summer before migrating to estuaries in winter. Juveniles estuary system for 3 to 5 years before migrating to the near as adults. Migration into the marine environment has only rec the shortnose sturgeon.

Tagging studies indicate that Atlantic sturgeon migrate extensively in the marine environment and Delaware Rivers have been recaptured as far north as coastal Maine and south to Nor southern systems have more restricted marine migrations, remaining closer to their natal rivers.

Sturgeons are considered to be among the most primitive bony fishes, with origins datin Sturgeons are characterized by 5 rows of bony plates or scutes along the back rather than barbells under their snout used as sensory organs. Juveniles and adults of both species are b consuming a variety of crustaceans, bivalves, worms, plants and occasionally small fish. S Atlantic sturgeon and may attain maximum sizes of approximately 100 cm (40 in.) and 23 k sturgeon reach maximum sizes of 430 cm (170 in) and 363 kg (800 lbs). Both species are lon ages in excess of 60 years for females and about 30 for males. Maturity occurs in female short age of 7 and 15, with maturity at younger ages at the southern end of the distributional range similar latitudinal pattern in female age at maturity with southern fish maturing between age 7 t in the St. Lawrence River, Canada reaching maturity in 27 to 29 years. Both species are hi production increasing proportional to body size with individual fish spawning once every 3 to 5 y Page 1 of 4 Atlantic and Shortnose Sturgeons - Status of Fishery Resources off the Northeastern US 12/03/2008 http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/sos/spsyn/af/sturgeon/

Management of both species is conducted under the auspices of the Atlantic States Ma (ASMFC). An Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) was implemented in 1990 whic regulations on sturgeon fisheries. The Plan was amended in 1998 in response to a marked de abundance. Fishing is now prohibited in all participating states' waters, and a moratorium has since 1999 under provisions of the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act (

FMP is to restore sturgeon spawning biomass to provide for a sustainable fishery. Manageme protected year classes of females to be present in any river stock of sturgeon before considerin stock. The FMP also emphasizes research programs to evaluate stock status of Atlantic sturgeo The National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service received a petition endangered, which was reviewed in 1998. The endangered status was denied but the species concern. The status of Atlantic sturgeon is currently being re-evaluated. During the 20th c declined throughout its historic range and in 1967 it was listed as endangered and has since rem The Fishery Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon fisheries began with native American Indians prior to the arrival of European settlers into North America. Colonists records indicate exports of sturgeons to Europe as early as 1628. A substantial Atlantic sturgeon fishery existed into the late 1800s, with landings as high as 3500 mt. However, overfishing, habitat degradation and reduced demand contributed to population decline so that only incidental landings occurred during 1900 to 1950. Landings increased during the 1950s to 1980s, particularly in the Carolinas and ranged between 45 mt and 115 mt per year ( Figure 42.2 [Fig 42.2 Data] ). Increased landings in the early 1990s were due to increased catches in ocean fisheries off New York and New Jersey ( Table 42.1 ). As part of the FMP implemented by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, a moratorium was established in 1998 which prohibited the harvest of wild Atlantic sturgeon. Shortnose sturgeon were rarely the target of commercial fisheries and were taken primarily as incidental bycatch in other fisheries. Possession of shortnose sturgeon is prohibited due to its endangered species status.

Research Vessel Survey Indices Page 2 of 4 Atlantic and Shortnose Sturgeons - Status of Fishery Resources off the Northeastern US 12/03/2008 http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/sos/spsyn/af/sturgeon/

Back to Top Atlantic sturgeon are taken only incidentally in the NMFS bottom trawl surveys. No shortno survey. The information from these surveys is therefore inadequate to determine any populatio capture both juvenile and adult Atlantic sturgeon.are conducted in rivers, estuaries and coa range and are used to determine stock status. In addition, tag release/recovery programs are River and the Chesapeake Bay and tributaries. Shortnose sturgeon are also sampled by stat and Florida.

Assessment Results Each river system in which Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon occur is considered to contain mixing of individuals in coastal waters. A review of Atlantic sturgeon stock status in 1998 by th Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concluded that although the abundance significantly, adequate spawning stock still remained for the persistence of the population a Habitat improvements and fisheries conservation were recommended to improve the likelihood Shortnose sturgeon were listed in 1967 as an endangered species but in some systems abund levels that would allow reconsideration of their endangered status. The shortnose population in Brunswick Canada is among the largest in North America, and the Hudson and Delaware Riv numbers of shortnose sturgeon.

Biological Reference Points The Atlantic sturgeon recovery plan requires is that at least 20 protected year classes of fema river system stock before a fishery can be allowed. Upon recovery, the target fishing mortality Hudson River will be 0.03, the rate that maintains eggs per recruit (EPR) at 50% of the EPR as The long term objective of the shortnose sturgeon recovery plan is to restore populations genetic diversity and avoid extinction. The short term goal is to rebuild populations throughout species from the Endangered Species list.

Summary Stock abundance of Atlantic and shortnose sturgeons steadily declined throughout the 20 overfishing and habitat destruction. Fisheries for Atlantic sturgeon existed until 1997 when a from Maine to Florida. Shortnose sturgeon was declared an endangered in 1967 under au Species Act of 1966. Research into the biology, habitat requirements and stock status of both o the goal of restoring both species to sustainable levels of abundance.

Table 42.1 Recreational and commercial landings for the Atlantic sturgeon (thousand metric to Category 1986-95 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Average U.S. Recreational Commercial United States 54 3

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<1 0

0 0

0 Canada 168 61 66 47 47 42 51 51 Other Total Nominal Catch 222 64 66 47 47 42 51 51 Page 3 of 4 Atlantic and Shortnose Sturgeons - Status of Fishery Resources off the Northeastern US 12/03/2008 http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/sos/spsyn/af/sturgeon/

Back to Top Back to Top Return to Status of Fishery Resources off the Northeastern US For further information ASMFC. 1998. Atlantic sturgeon stock assessment: peer review report. March, 1998. Washingt ASMFC. 1990. Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Sturgeon. Fisheries Management Report Dadswell, M.J., B.D. Taubert, T.S. Squiers. D. Marchette, and J. Buckley. 1984. Synopsis of b sturgeon, Acipenser brevirostrum LeSueur 1818. NOAA Tech. Rep. NMFS-14, FAO Fisheries s Gilbert, C.R. 1989. Species profiles: life histories and environmental requirements of coastal fis Atlantic Bight) Atlantic and shortnose sturgeons. U.S. Fish. Wildl. Serv., Biol. Rept. 82(11 Engineers TR EL-82-4.

NMFS. 1998. Final Recovery Plan for the shortnose sturgeon Acipenser brevirostrum; P Sturgeon Recovery Team. December 1998. Washington, D.C.

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