Report Dead Atlantic Sturgeon

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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 [email protected]. 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.