The shortnose sturgeon is a federally-listed endangered fish that inhabits the Connecticut River. Although it is a migratory species, the fish's population in the river is dam-locked and therefore is not reproducing well.

Refuge staff and others have witnessed fishermen catching these fish. Many anglers do not seem to know that they had caught sturgeon, apparently thinking they were catfish of some kind. In an effort to reduce any accidental mortality caused by such ignorance, outreach staff of the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge have joined with other state and federal agencies to design, fabricate and distribute posters to help fishermen identify the fish and understand that it is protected. The signs encourage the release of accidentally hooked sturgeon. They have been posted in Holyoke near the river and at state boat launches and have been provided to local marinas in areas where sturgeon are found.

The poster campaign is a cooperative effort with the United States Geological Survey's Conte Anadromous Fish Research Station, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service.

NORTHEAST REGION, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE -- Conserving the Nature of the Northeast