Shovelnose Sturgeon

The shovelnose sturgeon has managed to escape serious exploitation until recently. The collapse of the Caspian Sea sturgeon fishery, which used to supply 90% of the world's caviar, has now focused attention on this species.

A shovelnose sturgeon, also known locally as sand sturgeon, lies motionless on the river bottom.

Like most other sturgeon fisheries, the demise of the Caspian Sea sturgeon fishery was primarily caused by over harvest. Now the caviar industry is targeting shovelnose sturgeon as a source of caviar.

Wisconsin biologists are now concerned about the shovelnose sturgeon population that can be commercially harvested from the Mississippi River. Harvest numbers have continually increased over the last several years.

Harvest

• Inland Fishery - hook and line harvest
• Mississippi River Commercial Harvest and Management- commercially harvested fish from the Mississippi River