Fish biologist Andy Starostka, Columbia FRO, traveled to Cape Girardeau, Missouri to provide sturgeon identification expertise to state and federal law enforcement agents.

Law enforcement officers from four states, special agents from multiple U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offices, and biologists from Columbia FRO and Missouri Department of Conservation took part in a sweep of commercial fishing on the middle Mississippi River.

The lucrative domestic caviar market has put substantial pressure on sturgeon stocks where commercial fishing is still allowed.  The suspected take of federally endangered pallid sturgeon by commercial fishing is a major hurdle in the recovery of the species in the Mississippi River.

This sweep was intended to check commercial sturgeon fishermen and equipment to ensure compliance with regulations.