Atlantic Sturgeon

Quick Take

• Atlantic Sturgeon can leap clear out of the water, though scientists still aren't sure why they do it. See their leaping behavior →
• These fish wear armor instead of scales, and it's the same material found on a completely different class of animals. Discover their bony scutes →
• A female Atlantic Sturgeon can produce millions of eggs, though a significant catch makes their recovery as an endangered species so difficult. Explore egg-laying and threats →
• Where an Atlantic Sturgeon is born quietly determines where it will spend a critical moment decades later in its life. Learn about spawning origins →

These giant fish are living fossils that closely resemble ancient fossilized specimens. Once caught for their roe to use as caviar, the Atlantic Sturgeon is now protected under the Endangered Species Act. They have 5 known populations in the Western Atlantic, off the coast of Canada and the United States.

Atlantic Sturgeon Facts

• The largest known Atlantic Sturgeon was 14 feet long and more than 800 pounds.
• They can live up to 60 years in some areas.
• Atlantic Sturgeon are a subspecies of Acipenser oxyrinchus. Their relative is the Gulf Sturgeon.
• While they live the majority of their adult lives in the ocean, they return to the same river where they were born to spawn.
• Atlantic Sturgeon have 4 whiskers, called barbels, near their mouths.

Classification and Scientific Name

The Atlantic Sturgeon is actually a subspecies of Sturgeon known by the scientific name Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus. Along with the Gulf Sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi, these sturgeons are very similar to each other except in where they live. Each subspecies is named after its habitat.

They are part of the Acipenseridae family. This includes 27 total species of Sturgeons, all of which display the characteristic scutes of these fish rather than scales. The Atlantic Sturgeons belong to the Acipenseriformes order. In addition to Sturgeon, paddlefish belong to this order. They are part of the Actinopterygii class, also known as ray-finned fish. These fish have rays that support their fins rather than lobes. Over half of all known vertebrates are ray-finned fish. Atlantic Sturgeon are part of the Chordata phylum and the Animalia kingdom.

Appearance

Sturgeons are unique among fish because they don’t have scales. Instead, they have scutes. Scutes are bony armor found on the shells of turtles and crocodiles, as well as on the feet of birds. Sturgeons are considered a living fossil because they resemble now-extinct species. They have an arched back, which makes them easier to recognize by their silhouette, even at a distance.

They live for many years and can grow to be very large. The largest Atlantic Sturgeon ever recorded was 14 feet long and weighed over 800 pounds. Most are closer to 6 to 8 feet long and around 300 pounds. Even the smaller individuals are still considered large fish.

Most are dark blue, almost black, although some can have a greenish tint as well. Their bellies are lighter, appearing white in places. They are bony-looking due to their scutes. Atlantic Sturgeon also have a long snout with four barbels on the front. These function similarly to whiskers, sensing information about their environment.

You may see an Atlantic Sturgeon leaping out of the water. Because they are so large and have bony scutes, this can even be dangerous if they do so unexpectedly. There have been historical accounts of Sturgeon leaping near boats and actually knocking people over. While scientists do not know exactly why they do this, it is thought to be a form of communication.

Distribution, Population, and Habitat

As their name suggests, Atlantic Sturgeon live in the Atlantic Ocean. They are mostly found in the Western Atlantic off the coast of Canada and the United States. These fish live as far north as the waters off New Brunswick and extend as far south as the Atlantic Ocean off the Florida coast. They are also present in rivers all the way to the Mississippi, although habitat changes have reduced their population in those areas.

Atlantic Sturgeon live in brackish water when they are young and move to deeper water as they mature. They come back to freshwater when it is time to spawn.

Atlantic Sturgeon are considered endangered. Under the Endangered Species Act, Atlantic Sturgeon are divided into five Distinct Population Segments (DPS). Four DPSs (Carolina, Chesapeake Bay, New York Bight, and South Atlantic) are listed as endangered, while the Gulf of Maine DPS is listed as threatened.

Conservation efforts in each location differ based on the needs of the environment. Certain rivers have been designated as Sturgeon habitats as well, including the James River in Virginia. Atlantic Sturgeon tend to return to the same rivers to spawn throughout their lives. This helps scientists study their behavior as well as recommend concrete steps to protect these areas and the Sturgeon population. Factors that influence their population include overfishing, habitat destruction, and changes to rivers through manmade influences such as dams and bridges.

There was once a small population in the Baltic Sea, but Atlantic Sturgeon had disappeared from the area by the late 20th century. However, recent reintroduction efforts have released hundreds to thousands of Atlantic Sturgeon into Swedish rivers connected to the Baltic Sea between 2025 and 2026, aiming to rebuild the population.

Predators and Prey

Atlantic Sturgeon spend much of their lives at the bottom of the ocean and rivers where they live. They forage for food on the seafloor. They like to eat crustaceans and mollusks, as well as sea worms and other smaller fish that also live on the ocean floor.

Their bony scutes act as effective armor, so few other animals prey on the Atlantic Sturgeon. The biggest threat to these fish historically has been fishing. They were caught for their meat as well as their leathery skin. Atlantic Sturgeon eggs were prized for caviar, leading to a significant decline in their population as fishermen started fishing specifically for Sturgeon.

Now, the main threat to the Atlantic Sturgeon is the decline in its habitat. It is sometimes still caught as bycatch in commercial fisheries, but recent regulations require the use of modified nets and other bycatch reduction measures, which have substantially reduced Atlantic Sturgeon bycatch. Commercial fishing operations are also required to release any bycatch sturgeon safely.

Atlantic Sturgeon go upstream in rivers to spawn. Adding structures such as dams and locks can make this impossible, leading to a significant decline in future Sturgeon populations. Specifically, the Cape Fear River in North Carolina, the Santee-Cooper Rivers in South Carolina, and the Savannah River in South Carolina and Georgia have structures that make getting upstream difficult for Sturgeon. Dams in the Penobscot River in Maine and the Rappahannock River in Virginia have been altered or removed to allow for greater access to help the Sturgeon population.

Reproduction and Lifespan

Atlantic Sturgeon swim upstream in rivers to spawn. Each female lays up to 4 million eggs, although she only spawns once every 2 to 4 years. Younger females tend to lay fewer eggs, usually around 400,000. The females do not stay with the eggs and instead swim back down the river. The males sometimes stay upriver for some time, but eventually swim back downriver as well.

When they hatch, young Sturgeons stay in brackish water for the first few years of their lives. When they are around 6 years old and between 3 and 5 feet long, they move out to deeper water.

Atlantic Sturgeon lifespans vary based on where they live. The further north they live, the longer the Sturgeon lifespan can be. Atlantic Sturgeon that live in the St. Lawrence River in Canada can live up to 30 years or more, while those that live in rivers in South Carolina typically live between 20 and 25 years. Southern Atlantic Sturgeon grow and mature faster than their northern counterparts that live in colder water. Some of the oldest Atlantic Sturgeon are thought to be around 60 years old.

Fishing and Cooking

Because of their protected status under the Endangered Species Act, it is illegal to catch Atlantic Sturgeon or harvest their eggs in the United States, except under special permits for scientific research. In the past, Atlantic Sturgeon caviar was considered a delicacy and imported around the world. Atlantic Sturgeon meat was also eaten, although less frequently.

Because these fish are quite large, one Sturgeon could provide plenty of meat. Their most significant value, however, came from their roe. Not only did this remove one Sturgeon from the population, but it also reduced the number of potential new Sturgeon by interfering with spawning.