The Hudson River is home to two species of sturgeon: Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) and shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum). Atlantic sturgeon is one of the largest and longest-lived fish species in North America, growing up to 14 feet long and up to 800 lbs, whereas shortnose sturgeon are generally less than 4 feet long and weigh less than 20 lbs. In New York, adult Atlantic sturgeon return to the Hudson River to spawn during May and June. After spawning, the adults migrate back to the Atlantic Ocean while juvenile sturgeon remain in the river for two to six years before moving to the ocean to mature. Conversely, shortnose sturgeon spend their entire lives in the Hudson River. Adults migrate upstream to spawn near Albany throughout the month of May. Adult and young sturgeon will then reside throughout the entirety of the Hudson River, occupying both fresh and brackish water throughout their life cycle.
Current Fishery (Closed)
Recreational and commercial fishing for Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon is prohibited in the Hudson River and the Marine District of New York and any sturgeon caught incidentally should be immediately released back into the water
Management
The Atlantic sturgeon was once a major commercial fishery. This fishery was so productive that Atlantic sturgeon were once referred to as "Albany beef" as they were a common source of protein throughout the Hudson Valley. Unfortunately, due to overfishing and their susceptibility to getting caught as bycatch in other fisheries, their populations collapsed and have been slow to recover. The Atlantic sturgeon fishery was shut down in 1998 after an unsuccessful attempt to restore the population. In 2012, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries, listed the Atlantic sturgeon as endangered.
Shortnose sturgeon on the other hand have been listed as endangered since 1966 also due to overfishing, bycatch, and habitat loss. Even though both species are no longer fished, and possession is illegal, they are still vulnerable to many threats such as bycatch, climate change, environmental events, and a variety of human activities that result in population impacts.
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) is responsible for the cooperative interstate management of Atlantic sturgeon. Shortnose sturgeon are managed by individual states given their general tendency to remain in their natal rivers and not migrate along the coast. A stock assessment update (PDF) was completed in 2024 for Atlantic sturgeon indicating the coast-wide population has likely increased since the fishery closure in 1998, but the population still remains severely depleted relative to historic abundance levels.
Reporting Dead Sturgeon, Salvage Program, and Incidental Encounters
Human and sturgeon interactions can increase when sturgeon are migrating or congregating. Sturgeon may be injured or killed accidentally from interactions with commercial fishing or vessel traffic and deceased sturgeon may wash up on beaches. To better conserve this species, it's important to collect information about these dead sturgeon sightings.
Report observations of dead sturgeon to DEC's Marine Life Incident Report online survey. The information is used for the Atlantic Sturgeon Salvage Program. Please include the following:
Specify the location of the fish carcass. Please be as specific as possible and provide coordinates, if possible.
Note the condition of the fish (e.g. really rotted or fresh kill) and identify any signs of trauma (e.g. missing tail, large lacerations)
Estimate the total length of the carcass (measure from nose to tip of upper tail [caudal] fin) or whatever is left of the carcass.
Take photographs of the entire fish including close ups of any injuries. Include a picture of the head and mouth to verify the species
Do not handle the fish, leave it where you found it - possession of Atlantic or shortnose sturgeon is prohibited.
If live sturgeon are incidentally caught, use extreme care to release sturgeon back into the water, then report the encounter. If incidental catch occurs in the the Hudson River, report to 845-256-3073 or email us (Hudson River Fisheries). In marine waters, call 631-444-0444 or by emailing us (Marine).
Monitoring
Juvenile Atlantic Sturgeon Monitoring
Since 2004, gill nets have been used from late February to early May to catch juvenile Atlantic sturgeon overwintering in Haverstraw Bay. Length and weight are collected from the fish before being tagged and returned to the river.
Adult Atlantic Sturgeon Monitoring
Since 2006, gill nets have been used from mid-May through June to catch adult Atlantic sturgeon returning to spawn near Hyde Park. Sex is determined and length and weight are collected from the fish before being tagged and returned to the river.
Research
Acoustic Tagging
DEC and other researchers along the coast have been tagging sturgeon to better understand their movement and life history. Through this technology, DEC and researchers have learned more about the timing and arrival of spawning Atlantic sturgeon, shortnose sturgeon movement and habitat associations, and spatiotemporal patterns in habitat use of natal and non-natal adult Atlantic sturgeon.
Genetics
Through the use of genetic analyses, DEC and researchers determined the juvenile population of Atlantic sturgeon captured in Haverstraw Bay are primarily natal to the Hudson River and that the population is mainly comprised of two- to five-year olds. This information reinforces that the juvenile Atlantic sturgeon survey is primarily tracking the relative abundance of young Hudson River sturgeon to better inform recovery of this population.
DEC and other researchers demonstrated genetic techniques can be used to determine the sex of Atlantic, Gulf, and shortnose sturgeon.
Population Estimates
Recent population estimates have been conducted for both Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon. Through the use of acoustic telemetry and side-scan sonar (a method used to count sturgeon that are imaged on the bottom of the river), DEC and researchers have estimated the spawning run size of adult Atlantic sturgeon and the adult population size of shortnose sturgeon in the Hudson River. Additionally, we have refined our adult and juvenile Atlantic sturgeon relative abundance indices to account for low detection probabilities and environmental covariates.
