Environment DEC
From the October 2004 issue
Governor Participates in Release of Atlantic Sturgeon in Hudson River
Governor George E. Pataki recently participated in the release of 89 Atlantic sturgeon into the Hudson River as part of New York State's ongoing efforts to study and restore the species to the historic waterway. The fish, some as large as four feet in length, range from six to ten years old and are the offspring of sturgeon collected from the Hudson River more than a decade ago.
Governor Pataki releases an
Atlantic sturgeon into the
Hudson River
"The Atlantic sturgeon represents all that is unique and fascinating, but also vulnerable, about the Hudson River," Governor Pataki said. "Bringing this wonderful fish back to the Hudson may not have been possible years ago, but the fact that we're fortunate enough to release these sturgeon today illustrates the tremendous progress we've made in restoring the health of the river."
"We're proud that our efforts have helped create a cleaner, healthier and more vibrant Hudson River, which is supporting a diverse array of fish and wildlife and providing new and exciting opportunities for recreation and environmental education. Through our partnership with local governments and environmental and community organizations, we are achieving our ambitious goals for the Hudson, leading a renaissance along its shores, and improving the quality of life for our children and generations to come," the Governor added.
Sturgeon Study
Sturgeon are inspected
before they are released
The sturgeon release at Haverstraw Bay County Park in the Village of Haverstraw, Rockland County, is part of a project undertaken by the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to research the habitat use, movement, homing instincts, and health of wild and hatchery-raised immature Atlantic sturgeon in the Hudson River Estuary. Two other releases took place at different locations on the Hudson River in May and June of this year. As part of the project, a total of nearly 350 Atlantic sturgeon, all from the USFWS hatchery in Lamar, Pennsylvania, will be released into the Hudson River.
DEC Commissioner Erin Crotty
releases a large sturgeon
into the Hudson
The sturgeon are being sonic-tagged, released, and monitored to provide information about behavior and movement of wild and hatchery-raised Atlantic sturgeon, both in the Hudson River and along the coast. The project will identify habitats that are used by immature Atlantic sturgeon in the Hudson River Estuary and along the Atlantic coast. Based on the results, information could be used to protect critical habitats or determine which river system the hatchery-raised fish will ultimately return to for spawning. It is not known how hatchery fish imprint on their natal river. For instance, because the fish came from Hudson River parents, but were hatched and reared on a tributary of the Susquehanna River, it is not clear which river they will return to for spawning.
"Albany Beef"
An adult,
Atlantic sturgeon can
grow as long as
15 feet and weigh as
much as 800 pounds
Historically, the sturgeon was a major food fish in the Hudson Valley and was commonly sold as "Albany beef." Sturgeon was so abundant that they were stacked like logs on the decks of sloops and steamboats bound for market. However, ten years of over fishing culminated in a population decline in the mid-Atlantic states in the late 1980s. In 1998, the Atlantic sturgeon fishery was closed throughout the East Coast due to over fishing. Today, Atlantic sturgeon remains a protected species in New York State.
Successful Efforts
Efforts directed under the Hudson River Estuary Plan have been integral in developing life history information, habitat use information, and population level estimates for Hudson River Atlantic sturgeon and the federally endangered shortnose sturgeon. Through the Estuary Plan, an overall assessment of the health of these fish populations was determined and restoration efforts were initiated. Because it takes approximately 20 years for a female sturgeon to reach sexual maturity, biologists estimate it may take 40 years or more to re-establish enough mature sturgeon so that the species can withstand the resumption of a limited harvest in the Hudson River.
DEC Commissioner Erin M. Crotty said, "Governor Pataki has long recognized the importance of the Hudson River to the citizens of New York, and that recognition has translated into a renaissance for one of our state's most important natural resources. Efforts to rid the river of pollution, to protect habitat along its shores and to provide access points for hundreds of communities have led to a dramatic turnaround in the health of the river and have made initiatives like today's sturgeon release possible."
Commonly six to eight feet long and known to reach fourteen feet, Atlantic sturgeon is the largest species of fish found in the Hudson River. They have been known to live well beyond 50 years.
