Endangered Fish Washes Ashore

June 9, 2009

Release from: Alex Ruoff
Daily Times (Delmarva)

LEWES - Area researchers reported to the beach north of Rehoboth on Monday to take samples from an Atlantic Sturgeon, an endangered fish that washed ashore Sunday.

"I wouldn't look forward to seeing dead fish all over, but this is a good opportunity to get measurements and samples to see what's out here and what's going on with these fish," said Delaware State University Research Assistant Mike Everett.

The fish, which was about 6-feet long and 70 pounds, had deep lacerations to its rear dorsal section. Researchers said it most likely died after being struck by a boat propeller.

The samples taken will assist researchers in studying the fish, which has been designated a species of concern by the National Marine Fisheries Service, said Matthew Breece, a graduate student who's writing his thesis on the prehistoric species.

"We're hoping to determine where and if they spawn in the Delaware River," he said.

According to the Delaware Natural Resources and Environmental Control's Division of Fish and Wildlife, the Atlantic Sturgeon dates back more than 70 million years and can be found in coastal rivers from Canada to Florida.

They typically use freshwater rivers for spawning and marine environments for growth and migration.

The Delaware River once supported the largest and most profitable sturgeon fisheries, but overfishing of spawning adults mixed with poor water quality has caused the population to decline significantly since the turn of the 19th century, Breece said.

"We're hoping to get enough genetic samples to see if it really belongs in the Delaware River or not and to see if they can spawn here," he said.

Since 1991 DNREC has reportedly measured, weighed and tagged nearly 1,900 Atlantic Sturgeon. Through their surveys, state officials have concluded that the lower portions of the Delaware River are an important summer feeding ground for immature sturgeon.

Sturgeon are a distinctive fish, Breece said, as they have rows of bony scutes running down their body and four sensory barbels in front of a mouth that contains no teeth.