By Karl Blankenship
Atlantic sturgeon, an ancient species that co-existed with dinosaurs, has fared less well sharing coastal and river habitats with humans. As a result, they will be officially protected as an endangered species beginning April 6.
The decision by the National Marine Fisheries Service means it believes the sturgeon, the largest fish native to the Chesapeake - historically they reached lengths of 14 feet - is likely to become extinct in the foreseeable future without additional protection.
The NMFS, an arm of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, has not yet stated what new actions it will take to protect sturgeon, which are already subject to a coastwide fishing moratorium.
But its decision issued Feb. 6 said that sturgeon are taken as bycatch in other fisheries, killed by ship strikes, squeezed out of historic habitat by poor water quality and face other problems - all of which may be targeted for future protection efforts or regulations.
Read the complete story on the Bay Journal website.
No comments:
Post a Comment