Scientists Lose Contact With Lone Known Alabama Sturgeon

July 7, 2009

Release from: Associated Press

MOBILE, Ala. — Fish researchers have lost contact with the lone known Alabama sturgeon.

Scientists implanted an electronic tracking device in one of the fish after they captured an Alabama sturgeon on the lower Alabama River in April 2007. They hoped the sturgeon would lead them to other members of the species.

But that didn't happen, and the transmitter has now stopped working.

Bill Pearson, a field supervisor with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, said it was inevitable that researchers would lose track of the fish. He said they did gather data for two years before the fish was lost.

The government has designated 326 miles of Alabama waterway as critical habitat for the sturgeon.