Green Sturgeon
Twenty -six species of sturgeon can be found in temperate waters of the Northern Hemisphere, two of which reside on the West Coast of North America: the green sturgeon ( Acipenser medirostris) and the white sturgeon (Acipenser trensmontanus).
NOAA Fisheries received a petition in June 2001 from several environmental organizations requesting that the agency list the North American green sturgeon under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). On April 7, 2006, NOAA Fisheries listed the southern distinct population segment, or sDPS, of North American green sturgeon as threatened under the ESA. Critical habitat was designated on October 9, 2009. On June 2, 2010, NOAA Fisheries published final ESA protective regulations 4(d) for the southern distinct population segment of North American green sturgeon, and released a final environmental assessment analyzing the environmental impacts of these ESA Section 4(d) rules. The northern distinct population segment, or nDPS, of North American green sturgeon is a species of concern within the region.
Species Background
Education
Conservation Efforts & Research
General Green Sturgeon Q & A 93kb
Identification Guide 239kb
References 30kb
Management & Policy
ESA Listing
- 5-Year Status Review, Southern DPS, August 2015590kb
- Federal Register Notice, Southern DPS 100kb; updated April 14, 2014 503kb
- References for Final Rule Listing, Southern DPS 87kb
- Final Green Sturgeon Listing Q & A 119kb
Protective Regulations, ESA Section 4(d)
- News Release 61kb
- Federal Register Notice 50kb
- Environmental Assessment 1.2MB
- Impact Review 1.4MB
- Flexibility Analysis 1.2MB
- References for 4(d) rule 21kb
Recovery Plan