1 

Atlantic & Shortnose 

Sturgeons 

Coloring, Activities, and 

Education Booklet

 

Atlantic Sturgeon

Shortnose Sturgeon
2 

Hi there! I’m Barb, 

Scooter’s cousin, and I’m 

a shortnose sturgeon. 

Hey Kids! 

My name is Scooter, and I’m an Atlantic sturgeon. I’m hanging 

out with my cousin, Barb. She is a shortnose sturgeon. She’s 

shorter than me and has a short, broad snout. I got my name 

from these cool scales that we have called SCUTES. Barb is 

named after the neat whiskers we have called barbels. I will tell 

you all about those later. Would you like to learn about 

Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon? I can tell you all sorts of things 

about us like our life cycles, how we travel from the ocean to 

rivers, how even George Washington used to fish for us, and 

about how we were around when the dinosaurs were still alive!

We are a pretty interesting fish if you ask me! I even have some 

games for you to play and all sorts of things for you to color too.

If there is a word in bold that you don’t understand, have no 

fear! The definition is in the back of this book. Come on! Let’s 

have some fun learning about Atlantic and shortnose sturgeons! 
3 

ATLANTIC & SHORTNOSE STURGEONS 

The sturgeon family is the most primitive of all bony fishes, dating back to the 

Cretaceous period more than 120 million years ago. It is believed that the ancestors of 

sturgeon lived with the dinosaurs. This makes the sturgeon that you see today 

almost like living fossils! 

There are seventeen species with many more subspecies of sturgeon worldwide from 

the genus Acipenser, and they are found only in the northern hemisphere. Two 

species can be found on the East coast of the United States in the Atlantic Ocean. 

They are normally found in coastal waters, bays, estuaries, and rivers. The two 

species on the East coast are the Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus 

oxyrinchus) and the smaller shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum).

Atlantic and shortnose sturgeons are anadromous fish, which means that they spend 

part of their life cycle in salt water and part in freshwater. They are able to do this by 

osmoregulating, or leveling their body salts. They spend most of their time in 

coastal ocean waters, but migrate and travel through estuaries to rivers and 

freshwater for spawning, but shortnose sturgeon spend more time in rivers and 

farther upstream than Atlantic sturgeon. They are slow growing and late maturing fish.

While shortnose sturgeon have been known to reach no more than 5 feet and weigh up 

to 50 pounds, Atlantic sturgeon have been recorded to reach lengths over 14 feet 

long, weighing almost 800 pounds! The oldest Atlantic and shortnose sturgeons

recorded were estimated to be around 60 years old. Some shortnose sturgeon do not 
4 

reach reproductive maturity until they are 13 years old while some Atlantic sturgeon

do not reach maturity until they are 20 years old.

Sturgeon have five rows of bony scutes

along the length of their body. Scutes are a 

modified ganoid scale. Ganoid scales are 

diamond shaped and found on primitive

bony fishes like sturgeon. They can help 

serve as protection for the fish like armor, and 

also make sturgeon distinct from other fish.

Atlantic and shortnose sturgeons are benthic 

or bottom feeders which means that they 

feed and forage on creatures on the bottom 

of the rivers, estuaries, and coastal waters.

They feed primarily on polychaetes (worms), mollusks (clams), crustaceans

(crabs), and insect larvae. Their mouths are 

located on the underside of their body 

making them ideal bottom feeders. Between 

the mouth and tip of their snout, sturgeon

have four barbels that are similar to

whiskers. These barbels are sensors which 

they use to locate food. Sturgeon mouths 

are protrusible which means that it can be 

pushed out toward food on the ocean floor.

They suck up food off the floor like a 

vacuum, and after swallowing it whole, they 

spit out most of the pebbles, sand, and 

gravel that were also vacuumed up.

Sturgeon do not have teeth! When they swallow their food whole, it goes into their 

muscular stomach which is strong enough to crush and break up food for digestion. 

Summary of Atlantic & Shortnose Sturgeons 

• The sturgeon family is the most primitive of all bony fishes, dating back 120 

million years. They lived with the dinosaurs! 

• Atlantic and shortnose sturgeons are anadromous, migrating between the ocean 

in saltwater, estuaries in brackish waters, and rivers in fresh-water, though 

shortnose sturgeon spend more time in freshwater than Atlantic sturgeon. 

• They have 5 rows of bony scutes which are modified ganoid scales. 

• Shortnose sturgeon grow up to 5 feet and weigh 50 pounds. Atlantic sturgeon can 

grow over 14 feet long, and weigh up to 800 pounds. They can live to be over 60 

years old!

• They are bottom feeders that use their barbels to sense and locate food, and 

they use their protrusible mouths to vacuum up the food.

Protrusible

mouth

Barbels

Scutes 

(above and 

side view)
5 

Sturgeon

Fins

Sturgeons, like most fish, use their fins for swimming, steering, and for balance. 

The dorsal and anal fins are used to stabilize the fish. Pectoral and pelvic 

fins are on the sides of the body, and are used for turning, stopping, and also 

balancing. The caudal or tail fin is like a boat propeller; it pushes them through 

the water by moving back and forth. The caudal fin on sturgeon is bigger on 

the top than the bottom which is called heterocercal, just like a shark’s tail! 

Scutes

Sturgeon have five rows of bony scutes along the length of their body. Scutes

are a modified scale. They can help serve as protection for the fish like armor 

and make sturgeon distinct from other fish.

Gills

Like humans, fish need oxygen to live, but fish do not have lungs inside their 

body and do not breathe like humans do. Instead, fish have gills, which are 

found just behind the head and under a gill flap. As water flows into their 

mouth, it flows over their gills which absorb oxygen from water.

Eating

Sturgeon do not have teeth! They suck up food like a vacuum with their 

protrusible mouth. After swallowing food whole, their muscular stomach 

crushes it into smaller pieces for digestion. Sturgeon eat various prey including 

polychaetes (worms), mollusks, and crustaceans. There are four barbels

between the tip of their snout and their mouth which they use as sensors to 

locate food.

Pectoral fin

Pelvic fin

Dorsal fin

Anal fin

Caudal fin

Scutes

Barbels

Protrusible 

mouth

Gills
6 

Connect the Dots

Connect the dots from 1 all the way up to 25 to reveal a new friend!

When you have reached the 

finish, help Scooter by 

drawing in the scutes on his 

back. Follow the line from 

number 22 to 25. Then you 

can color him!

Thanks for 

your help!!
7 

STURGEON THROUGH HISTORY

The Native Americans of North America fished for sturgeon using spears, 

lassos, clubs, and weirs. Sturgeon are known to leap out of the water on 

occasion and would even sometimes jump right into their boats! They were 

known to be curious fish, so one fishing method used by the Housatonic Native 

Americans to catch sturgeon was fishing at night while holding a torch above 

the water. The sturgeon were so curious and attracted to the light that they 

would come right up 

to the surface of the 

water to check out 

the strange sight.

When they came 

close enough, they 

would get hit on the 

head with a club or 

an axe by the 

fisherman who 

would then drag the 

stunned fish into the 

boat. In addition, North American Native tribes named the full moon in August 

“Sturgeon Moon” because the fish were plentiful at that time.

Sturgeon were found in great numbers when European settlers first arrived in 

North America. Some accounts noted that there were so many sturgeon in the 

James River that you could walk across the river on their backs. In the late 

1700’s, George Washington started a recreational fishery for sturgeon on the 

Potomac River. They were very strong, large fish, so when fishermen would 

catch a sturgeon with a lasso, they would brace themselves in the boat for the 

sturgeon equivalent to a “Nantucket

sleigh ride.” However, it was not always 

fun and games with sturgeon on the 

Potomac. A sturgeon actually killed a 

Continental Army officer when he was 

crossing the Potomac as it jumped into 

his boat, landing on him and breaking his 

legs. 

Sturgeon were considered to be a 

delicacy and a “royal” fish back in 

England. To be a “royal” fish meant that 

the king had first rights to any sturgeon
8 

that were caught. The colonists were suspicious of the Native Americans who 

consumed these scute-armored fish, and regardless of their “royal” status in 

Europe, continued to refuse to eat the sturgeon. However, after harsh winters 

with little food, and so many of these large fish in great abundance, Captain 

John Smith convinced them to make good use of sturgeon. 

Sturgeon were used for many different purposes, not just food. The meat was 

high in protein and was prepared by a smoking or pickling process. This 

process allowed for the meat to be 

shipped and travel great distances 

without spoiling. The oil of the sturgeon

was used as a substitute for sperm whale 

oil as it was less smoky flavored and did 

not spoil as quickly. Isinglass, made 

from the swim bladder of the 

sturgeon, was used as a binding agent 

for paint as well as an adhesive. The thick 

skin of the sturgeon was made into 

leather by a tanning process, and the 

roe or eggs of the sturgeon were 

prepared through a salting process to 

become caviar. 

During the late 1800’s, the great “Caviar Rush” began. News of the abundance 

of sturgeon with caviar or “black gold” on the East Coast spread quickly. Many 

flocked to the coast in search of riches, and this became known as the great 

“Caviar or Black Gold Rush.” By the end of the 1800’s and beginning of the 

1900’s, sturgeon stocks had declined drastically. Close to seven million pounds 

of sturgeon were reportedly caught in 1887, but due to overfishing, it had 

dropped to only 20,000 by 1905, and by 1989, a mere 400 pounds of sturgeon

were recorded. In a time span of only 100 years, catches of sturgeon went 

from tens of thousands of fish down to only a handful.

Summary of Sturgeon in History

• Sturgeon used to be greatly abundant in rivers and coastal waters along the 

eastern seaboard of the United States.

• The Native Americans used spears, lassos, weirs, clubs, and even fire to catch

sturgeon. 

• Sturgeon are known to jump clear out of the water and even sometimes land in 

boats. People have been injured by jumping sturgeon. 

• Sturgeon were used for meat, oil, leather, isinglass, and caviar. 

• Stocks of sturgeon became greatly depleted after the great “Caviar” or “Black 

Gold Rush” when fishermen flocked to the coast in search of riches from caviar. 
9 

Sturgeon were used for many purposes: The meat was eaten after it 

was smoked or pickled; the skin was tanned and turned into leather; 

sturgeon oil was used instead of sperm whale oil; isinglass from the 

swim bladder was used as a binding agent in paint as well as an 

adhesive, and a clarification agent for wine; and the eggs or roe were 

salted and prepared into caviar. Caviar became known as the other 

“black gold.”

What Were Sturgeon 

Used For? 
10 

Historic Sturgeon

• PREHISTORIC

• DINOSAURS

• FISHERY

• ROE 

• CAVIAR

• ISINGLASS

• SWIM 

• LEATHER

• PRIMITIVE

• CRETACEOUS

• FOSSILS

• OIL

• SMOKED

• SALTING

• CURIOUS

• LIGHT

• FIRE

• JUMP

P P R L E A T H E R C 

B R O S M O K E D I R 

I I E C U R I O U S E 

S M L H D T L I G H T 

I I T F I S H E R Y A 

N T F R N S F I R E C 

G I O S O S T D T T E 

L V S B S Y M O I L O 

A E S C A V I A R G U 

S M I J U M P I N I S 

S I L R R S W I M Y C 

P N S D S A L T I N G 

Can you find 

these words 

in the puzzle 

above?

Words may be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal.
11 

Jumping Sturgeon 

Sturgeon sometimes jump right out of the water! No one knows for sure 

why they do it. Some think that it is a form of communication or that they 

may be trying to get rid of parasites, and some even think that it may be 

just for fun.

What do you think?
12 

What’s Missing From These Sturgeon?

Can you find what parts are missing from sturgeon 1, 2, and 3? 

 

Use the sturgeon on the top of the page as a guide. (Hint: Fish #1 and #2 are 

missing two parts each, and fish #3 is missing three parts.) After you find the 

missing parts, you can draw them back into the picture.
13 

MIGRATION AND LIFE STAGES

Most Atlantic sturgeon spend their winters in deep coastal waters. When 

winter ends, they begin migrating up and down the coast to foraging and 

spawning grounds in the coastal estuaries and rivers. Shortnose sturgeon

migrate down to the estuaries and sometimes to nearby rivers, but mostly stay 

 within the river, not making big

 migrations down the coast like

Atlantic sturgeon. Atlantic and 

shortnose sturgeons use 

estuaries for foraging grounds 

and also rearing grounds for

juveniles. When spawning, 

they usually travel to their natal

river which is a process called 

 natal homing. A natal river is

 the river where they were 

 originally hatched. Spawning grounds 

are found above the salt wedge in rivers, and are usually places with flowing 

water and a bottom consisting of gravel, pebbles, and cobble. When they arrive 

at the spawning grounds, females release eggs which are very sticky and 

attach to the pebbles and gravel. Males then swim over the eggs spreading milt

which fertilizes the eggs and creates embryos. 
14 

The embryos will hatch into larvae within 3-6 days. At first, larvae have the 

yolk sac from the egg still attached to them that provides food and 

nourishment. This stage is called the yolk sac larval stage and lasts about 8-12 

days. When the larvae or fry are finished with the yolk sac and are more 

mobile, they begin migrating downstream to the rearing grounds, or nursery, in 

the estuary, and use rocks and aquatic plants for hiding. As the fry continue to 

grow, they are called fingerlings and continue to become better swimmers. 

They feed on zooplankton (tiny animals), aquatic plants, and insect larvae. 

When they become juveniles, they move further downstream to the estuaries

and brackish waters which are a mixture of salt and fresh water. Juveniles

then stay in the estuaries for months or even years. They are considered to be 

sub-adults by the time they leave the estuary and begin migrations. Subadults look the same as adults, but are not yet able to reproduce. Adults and 

sub-adults migrate along the coast to their wintering habitats and then begin 

the whole migration all over again in the spring. 

Summary of Migration

• Atlantic and shortnose sturgeons migrate from the ocean and brackish

water to freshwater rivers for spawning, and to brackish estuaries for 

foraging and rearing habitat. 

• They exhibit natal homing which means they spawn in the river in which they 

were hatched.

• Spawning occurs in freshwater. As the embryo grows up to be a juvenile

and finally a sub-adult and adult, they move farther downstream to 

brackish waters and eventually out to the ocean.

River That 

Way

Ocean This 

Way
15 

Yolk Sac Larvae 

When larvae first emerge from the eggs, they still have the yolk sac 

attached. This provides food and nourishment while they are growing.

They hide out in the spaces between rocks and under aquatic plants

for protection.
16 

• ATLANTIC

• STURGEON

• ANADROMOUS 

• SPAWNING 

• MIGRATE

• HABITAT

• OCEAN

• RIVER

• ESTUARY

• PEBBLES

• GRAVEL

• SUBSTRATE

• SALT WEDGE

• COASTAL

• TEMPERATURE

• FLOW

B L E S T U A R Y C T 

S A P E B B L E S M E 

Y P H F L O W B T T M 

A N A D R O M O U S P 

T R B W T T Y C R U E 

L P I V N M G E G B R 

A R T V U I R A E S A 

N T A Y E G N N O T T 

T S T M G R I G N R U 

I L E G R A V E L A R 

C C O A S T A L S T E 

S A L T W E D G E E V 

Migratory Sturgeon

Can you find 

these words 

in the puzzle 

above?

Words may be vertical, horizontal, or diagonal.
17 

Atlantic and shortnose sturgeons use estuaries and bays as 

foraging/feeding grounds. They eat various prey including 

crustaceans, polychaetes, and mollusks. Their protrusible mouth 

sucks up food along with sand and pebbles like a vacuum. After they 

swallow the food whole, they spit out the pebbles and sand. 

How many prey items can you find?

FORAGING 
18 

Migration Maze: Foraging 

Help the sturgeon find his way to the foraging 

grounds....be careful, there are many obstacles along the 

way such as boat propellers, fishing nets, and fishing lures. 
19 

Migration Maze: Spawning

FINISH

START

Can you help my 

friends, Spike and 

Sandy, find their 

way to the 

spawning grounds?

Spike

Sandy
20 

Embryo

Yolk sac larvae

Larvae

Fingerling

Juvenile

Adult

Life 

Stages 
21 

Life Cycle and Physiology

• FIN

• BARBELS

• CAUDAL 

• DORSAL

• PECTORAL

• PELVIC

• PROTRUSIBLE

• GILLS

• SCUTES

• EGGS 

• YOLKSAC 

• LARVAE

• FRY

• JUVENILES 

• SUBADULTS

P J U V E N I L E S N 

V R B A E L T S L M P 

F D O R S A L C A O E 

R T L T M C E U R P C 

Y P Y B R A G T V Y T 

O E S N E U G E A G O 

L L F Y N D S S E G R 

K V I F S A D I Y I A 

S I N O R L M P B L L 

A C M P B A R B E L S 

C F D F T M P A B S E 

B G S U B A D U L T S 

Can you find 

these words 

in the puzzle 

above?

Words may be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal.
22 

PROTECTION

Shortnose sturgeon were listed as endangered throughout their range in 1967 under 

the Endangered Species Preservation Act and later under the Endangered Species 

Act (ESA) when it was started in 1973. They are still listed as endangered under the 

ESA, which means that they are protected by law from fishing and other threats. 

In 1998, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) recognized the need 

to put protections in place for Atlantic sturgeon. They started a ban which stopped 

fishing for Atlantic sturgeon for 20 to 40 years or until the populations could be 

restored to a level where 20 years of age classes were protected. Also, no one is allowed 

to keep any Atlantic sturgeon that are accidentally caught.

 

NOAA Fisheries (NMFS) 

then listed Atlantic 

sturgeon as a “Species

of Concern (SOC)” in 

2004. A SOC listing does 

not provide protections 

like a listing under the 

ESA. Listing a species as 

a SOC is meant to 

promote efforts to conserve the species about which NMFS is concerned. It is also 

meant for the species that have little information available to determine whether listing 

under the ESA is necessary. 

Atlantic sturgeon were listed as a “Candidate Species” as well, because NMFS was 

reviewing the status of the species to determine if listing under the ESA was necessary. 

In 2007, the status review of Atlantic sturgeon was completed. Based upon the best 

available scientific and commercial information, NMFS determined that listing all of the 

Atlantic sturgeon populations off the East coast of the United States as either 

endangered or threatened under the ESA is warranted. In 2012, four of the five 

populations (sturgeon born in rivers which flow into southern Massachusetts to Florida) 

have been listed as endangered while Atlantic sturgeon who were born in rivers that 

flow into the Gulf of Maine have been listed as threatened. 

Summary of Protection

• Shortnose sturgeon have been listed as endangered throughout their range since 

1967.

• There is a ban on fishing for and keeping Atlantic sturgeon for up to 40 years. 

• Atlantic sturgeon were previously a NMFS Species of Concern and Candidate Species. 

• In 2012, NMFS listed the Gulf of Maine population of Atlantic sturgeon as threatened

and the other four populations as endangered throughout the rest of the U.S. range.
23 

All Stirred Up!

LUSDAUBT 

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

SLGISSNIA

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

LERPTUSBORI 

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

AVARLE

_ _ _ _ _ _

FHGOSGVREIIN 

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

GERAOF 

_ _ _ _ _ _

SMOOUDRAAN

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

FBTOOTMDREEE

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

AVICRA

_ _ _ _ _ _

YSTEUAR

_ _ _ _ _ _ _

ARBLESB

_ _ _ _ _ _ _

KYOSLCA

_ _ _ _ _ _ _

A. The first mobile life stage of sturgeon after hatching from an 

egg

B. This occurs when the number of fish taken from an ecosystem 

and population is greater than the population’s ability to grow 

and reproduce

C. Referring to a mouth/jaw which is capable of being extended 

outward in order to suck up prey items

D. Searching for food or prey

E. Made from the swim bladder of sturgeon; used as a binding 

agent for paint, an adhesive, and also a clarifying agent for 

wine

F. Fish that spend some of their life cycle in salt water and 

migrate to fresh water rivers and streams to spawn

G. Whisker-like sensors near the mouth used to find prey

H. A fish that feeds on the benthos or bottom of the water column

I. Processed roe or eggs of sturgeon

J. Near the mouth of a river where the ocean saltwater meets and 

mixes with the freshwater of the river 

K. A sac attached to the embryo that provides nourishment

L. An animal that has not matured to an age where it can 

reproduce, but exhibits ALL external traits of the adult

These words and definitions have gotten all stirred up! 

Unscramble the words and then draw a line to match them to the correct definition.

Now take the letters in the circles and unscramble 

them below to find out the bonus word.

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
24 

THREATS

Although it is no longer legal to fish for or keep Atlantic and shortnose 

sturgeons, they are still caught accidentally as incidental catch in some 

fisheries. They are caught by recreational fishermen on lures and hooks, 

often accidentally snagging the sturgeon on the side or tail. Sturgeon are 

vulnerable to commercial fisheries

that fish with gill nets. The way 

fishermen fish with gill nets usually 

is by setting and leaving nets for long 

periods of time, anywhere from 

several hours to days. Sturgeon

swim into these nets and can get 

stuck. If their gills get closed shut by 

the nets, they can suffocate and die.

Another threat posed by nets is what happens when nets are lost. Due to 

weather, storms, and rough waters, 

nets can break free and get lost in 

the ocean. These are called “ghost 

nets” and can float around the 

ocean and rivers entangling 

sturgeon as well as other fish 

species, marine mammals, and sea 

turtles.

Dams on rivers pose another threat 

to Atlantic and shortnose 

sturgeons. Dams were 

constructed on many rivers along the East Coast. They were made for many 

reasons including production of electricity through hydropower (using flowing 

water to make electricity) and for sending water where it needs to go for 

growing plants for food. Dams can be harmful to sturgeon by blocking the way 

to their spawning grounds. If they are 

unable to reach their spawning grounds, 

they may choose to not spawn at all or end 

up spawning in an area that is not suitable 

for the development of embryos. Many 

dams have special fish ladders or fishways 

that are made to allow fish to swim

upstream of the dam. Other dams install fish 

lifts or elevators to move fish up and over a 

dam. However, sturgeon do not use these
25 

fishways to pass the dams, and even if they did, engineers have not yet 

developed ways to pass the large fish back downstream of the dam.

Sturgeon can also be harmed by tidal turbines, another form of hydropower.

Some tidal turbines look like fans under the water. The power of the tide makes 

the fan spin, and this motion creates energy. If sturgeon swim near these 

turbines, they can be struck by the blades of the fan. Similar to the dangers 

that tidal turbines pose, boat strikes pose a threat to sturgeon as they can be 

struck by the blades of a propeller and the boat itself as the boat is passing. 

Pollution and dredging can also cause problems for the survival of Atlantic and 

shortnose sturgeons. Pollution can be caused by many different actions, and 

can include run-off from agricultural 

sites, roadways, construction sites, 

and pesticide applications. All of 

these things can affect water quality.

A couple of water quality factors that 

affect sturgeon are dissolved 

oxygen and temperature. Run-off 

from agricultural sites can include 

fertilizer which can cause harmful 

algal blooms. When algae blooms, it 

can take oxygen out of the water 

which can kill fish and other aquatic life. Temperature is another factor that can 

affect the migration spawning cues for sturgeon. The spawning migration 

begins with the rise in temperature in the spring. Hatching time and egg

development are also dependent on temperature. 

Dredging is another potential threat to sturgeon and is when the river bottom 

is dug up to either make the river deeper or wider. Sturgeon can be caught in 

the dredge and killed. Dredging can affect spawning habitat as well by filling 

the water with mud and pollution which can cover over the gravel and cobble 

substrate that is needed for spawning. 

Summary of Threats

• Incidental catch of sturgeon in some fisheries still happens. 

• Dams can block sturgeon from reaching their spawning grounds.

• Sturgeon do not use fish ladders to get upstream of a dam. Even if they did, 

there is still no good way to get them back downstream of the dam. 

• Tidal turbines can harm sturgeon if they get struck by the blades.

• Ship strikes and boat propellers are also a threat to sturgeon. 

• Dredging, dam construction, and pollution are all factors that can cause a loss 

of habitat for sturgeon and can affect spawning, rearing, and foraging. 
26 

DOWN

(2) This occurs when run-off with 

fertilizer causes tiny aquatic plants 

to reproduce quickly, removing 

oxygen from the water, which can 

be deadly to fish.

(3) This is used as a form of 

alternative energy, but sturgeon

can be killed if they swim into it 

and get caught in the blades.

(6) A net is called this when it is 

lost by a fisherman and floats 

around in the water. Sturgeon and 

marine animals can become 

entangled in these nets.

(7) This is what it is called when 

human actions are causing harm 

to the environment through 

chemicals in exhaust and runoff, 

as well as litter and trash in rivers, 

oceans, and on land.

Threats to Atlantic and Shortnose Sturgeons 

ACROSS

(1) Fish use this to climb over and pass a dam

upstream; however, sturgeon do not use this.

(4) Although fishing for Atlantic and shortnose 

sturgeons is no longer legal, they are still caught as 

incidental _____.

(5) This is a form of pollution that flows from 

agricultural areas, construction sites, and roadways.

(7) This is attached to the motor on a boat and pushes 

it through the water. Sturgeon can be killed if they are 

hit by the blades on this.
27 

PIT Tags

Acoustic Telemetry Tag

RESEARCH 

Scientists and researchers have been studying sturgeon for many years. Even 

though much research has been conducted, there is still a lot of information that 

we do not know. Where exactly are the spawning grounds? Where do they go 

in the winter? Why do they jump? ... and much more. In an attempt to try to 

answer some of these questions, researchers have been using tagging as a way 

to track and follow sturgeon throughout their migrations and coastal

movements. A few types of tags that researchers have been using are satellite 

tags, acoustic telemetry tags, and PIT (passive integrated transponder) 

tags. Each tag aids researchers in getting different information that they are 

searching for. 

PIT tags are tiny little microchips that are 

placed under the skin of the sturgeon. The 

tag is inserted with a small needle which 

pierces the skin and allows the tag to be 

placed just under the skin. When 

researchers catch sturgeon through their 

sampling efforts, they scan it with a PIT 

tag reader. PIT tag readers are small, 

handheld devices that activate the tag when 

being scanned and record the unique and 

individual tag number. They can then take that tag number and find out in what 

river or where on the coast that fish was originally tagged.

Acoustic telemetry tags serve to give a broader picture of the migrations of 

sturgeon. Acoustic tags are inserted by researchers through a more surgical 

approach. Using a scalpel, the researcher will 

make an incision (cut) into the body cavity large 

enough to fit the tag just under the fatty skin 

layer. This incision is then closed with stitches.

These tags are larger than the typical PIT tag, 

and are programmed to “ping” or send out signals 

at specific intervals. Each of these tags has a 

unique number. When a tagged fish swims near 

one of the acoustic telemetry receivers, the 

receiver records the number, date, and time.

These acoustic receivers, which are about the size 

of a liter bottle of soda, are deployed up and 

down the coast in coastal waters as well as in 

rivers and estuaries. Researchers go to their 
28 

Acoustic Receiver

receivers periodically and download all of the data that 

was collected. Each time a tag is identified by the 

receiver, it is called a “hit.” The researcher can then 

see where and when certain fish “hit” the receiver.

With this information, and through cooperation with 

other researchers, they can begin to see exactly where 

the fish has been traveling.

Satellite tags are a more in-depth and comprehensive 

collection system. Once the satellite tag is attached 

through a dorsal scute on the sturgeon’s back, they 

begin collecting information immediately. This 

information is either stored in the tag or sent directly 

up to the satellites.

If the data is being 

stored, there is usually a designated date 

where the tag will release from the fish.

When the tag releases, it floats up to the 

surface and begins downloading to satellites 

all the data that it had collected in its time 

on the fish. This information is then given to 

the researcher. More expensive and larger 

satellite tags are capable of providing 

“real time” data where the information is 

constantly being uploaded and updated to 

the satellites and researchers. This 

information can show direct paths and near 

exact locations of everywhere the fish went 

while it was tagged. With all of the data that 

can be collected from various kinds of tags, they are able to create maps that 

will show where the sturgeon traveled. 

Summary of Research

• Research has been focused on studying Atlantic and shortnose sturgeons for 

many years, but there is still much about these sturgeon that we do not know.

• Researchers use various tags to track sturgeon. These include PIT tags, 

acoustic telemetry tags, and satellite tags. 

• PIT tags are small microchips inserted into the skin. PIT tag readers can read 

the unique identifier of the tag when waved over it.

• Acoustic tags “ping” and their signal is picked up by the receivers. The tag 

number, date, and time are recorded in the receiver.

• Satellite tags can either store location data that is recorded constantly once 

deployed and upload to satellites at the predetermined date, or provide “real 

time” data by uploading continuously to satellites orbiting the Earth.

Satellite Tag and 

Satellite 
29 

Mapping & Tracking 

Receiver #1

Receiver #2

Receiver #3

Receiver #5

Receiver #6

Help map the travels of a sturgeon

in the river. Pick your favorite 

colored crayon or marker and draw 

a dotted line or arrow for where the 

sturgeon traveled in the river from 

Monday morning to Saturday night.

Each day has a morning, afternoon, 

and night. Follow the receiver data 

through the days of the week 

starting with Monday morning and 

ending with Saturday night.

Receiver Data:

#1 Monday morning, 

Monday afternoon, and 

Saturday afternoon.

#2 Monday evening, and 

Tuesday morning, 

Wednesday morning, 

Saturday morning, and 

Saturday night.

#3 Tuesday afternoon, 

Tuesday night, Friday 

night

#4 Wednesday afternoon, 

Wednesday night

#5 Thursday morning, 

Thursday afternoon, 

Thursday night

#6 Friday morning, Friday 

afternoon

Receiver #4
30 

Glossary

Acoustic Telemetry Tags - tags used for tracking; it sends out a “ping” which is picked up and 

recorded by an acoustic receiver

Anadromous - fish that live in the salt water oceans and migrate to fresh water rivers and streams 

to spawn

Anal Fin - fin located on the underside of a fish just behind the anus which is used for stabilization

Atlantic Ocean - the second largest ocean; located between the East Coast of North and South 

America and the West Coast of Europe and Africa; covers approximately one-fifth of the Earth’s 

surface

Barbel - whisker-like sensors found between the snout and mouth on sturgeon which are used to 

find prey

Bay - an area of water bordered by land on three sides; generally have calmer waters than the 

adjacent sea due to the protection of the surrounding land 

Bottom Feeder - a fish that feeds on the bottom of the water column

Brackish Water - water that is more salty than fresh water, but not as salty as seawater; results from 

mixing of seawater with fresh water, as in estuaries

Buoyancy - the upward force that fluid exerts on things that are less dense than the water; upward 

force that keeps items afloat

Caviar - the processed roe or eggs of sturgeon

Caudal Fin - the tail fin; propels fish through the water by moving back and forth or side to side

Coastal - area where the land meets the sea or ocean; the seashore

Commercial - intended to be sold; Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon were once a commercial fishery 

for their meat and eggs (caviar) 

Crustacean - a large group of arthropods, with almost 52,000 described species; includes various 

familiar marine animals such as crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, krill, and barnacles

Dam - a barrier constructed across a waterway to control the flow of water, usually for redirection of 

water in order to harness power of the water flow

Diadromous - referring to fish that make migrations between salty sea water and fresh river water

Dorsal Fin - the fin located on the back of the fish used for stabilization

Dredging - A method for deepening streams, lakes, or reservoirs by scraping and removing solids 

from the bottom

Endangered Species - a species that is in danger of extinction

Estuary - the mouth of a river where the tide or flow of marine water (salt water) meets and mixes 

with the freshwater of the river

Eggs - the reproductive body consisting of an embryo together with the nutritive and protective

envelopes

Embryo - a fertilized egg

Fingerling - refers to an early life stage of a young fish when it generally measures to a size similar to 

a human finger

Fishery - industry involved in the catching, processing, and marketing of fish
31 

Forage - searching for food or prey

Fry - life stage at which fish have identifiable body parts; follows the larval stage

Ganoid Scales - diamond shaped scales that are found on primitive bony fishes like sturgeon; 

scutes are a modified ganoid scale

Genus - a taxonomic rank used in classifying organisms

Gills - the respiratory organ of most aquatic animals that process or breathe water to obtain oxygen

Gill Net - specific net type used by fisherman; fish swim into the net and are caught by their gills or 

tangled up in the webbing

Habitat - the area or environment where where organisms like plants and animals live or occur

Heterocercal Fin - a tail or caudal fin with unequal lobes; in sturgeon, the top lobe is larger and 

points upward, like the tail of a shark

Incidental Catch - accidental catch of a non-target species while fishing for another species

Isinglass - made from the swim bladder of sturgeon; used as a binding agent for paint, adhesive, 

and also a clarifying agent for wine

Juvenile - the life stage at which fish exhibit most but not all traits of an adult fish

Larvae - the first mobile life stage of sturgeon after hatching from an egg

Loss of Habitat - when habitat, or areas where animals live or occur, is no longer available to them 

due to dam construction and pollution; habitat loss is thought to be a major factor in declining 

sturgeon populations

Migrate - to move from one area to another, usually for feeding or reproduction

Milt - combination of sperm cells of male fish with the fluid containing them; during spawning, the 

male releases milt as the female deposits her eggs

Mollusk - An invertebrate animal usually enclosed in a shell, such as an oyster, mussel, or clam

Natal - pertaining to birth

Nantucket Sleigh Ride - a phrase to describe when a whale was harpooned and would drag the 

whaling boat behind him; typically referring to whaling for sperm whales off of Nantucket, MA

Nursery - The part of a fish’s or animal’s habitat where the young grow up, also known as rearing 

grounds

Overfishing - occurs when the number of fish taken from an ecosystem and population is greater 

than the population’s ability to reproduce and replenish the number in the population

Pectoral Fin - fins on the side of the body used for turning, stopping, and balancing

Pelvic Fin - the paired fin behind the pectoral fin on the sides of the body also used for turning, 

stopping, and balancing

Pickling - the process of preserving food by anaerobic fermentation in brine, a solution of salt in water 

PIT tag - PIT (passive integrated transponder) tags are an injectable, internal microchip that allows 

unique identification of a marked fish; the tag is passive, meaning that it does not put forth the unique 

number until it is requested by a scanner

Pollution - the introduction of contaminants into an environment that causes instability, disorder, 

harm, or discomfort to the ecosystem

Polychaete - A large and diverse group of segmented marine worms
32 

Primitive - very old; having only slightly evolved from an earlier primeval or ancestral type

Prehistoric - belonging to or existing in times before recorded history

Prey - animal hunted or caught for food

Protrusible - capable of being thrust outward; sturgeon have a protrusible mouth which they use 

to suck up prey items like a vacuum

Rearing - the action or practice of bringing a person, animal, or plant to maturity or to a certain stage 

of growth; juvenile sturgeon spend most of their time in their rearing grounds, or nursery 

Recreational - engaged in a pastime; fishermen who fish for a hobby and not to sell their catch are 

called recreational fishermen

“Realtime” Data - Data that is available to users as soon as it is received by the system

Roe - fish eggs; sturgeon eggs or roe are turned into caviar

Salting - the preservation of food with dry salt; related to pickling (preparing food with brine, i.e.

salty water); one of the oldest methods of preserving food

Salt Wedge - the area in an estuary where there is minimal mixing of salt and fresh water; where 

the salt water forms a wedge thickest on the ocean side and tapered off toward the freshwater side

Satellite Tags - tags used for tracking that are capable of storing near exact location data as well as 

time and depth, which is then downloaded to satellites 

Scales - small rigid plates that grow out of an animal’s skin for protection; sturgeon have ganoid 

scales

Scutes - modified boney ganoid scales on sturgeon; there are five rows on a sturgeon’s body that 

extend from the head to the base of the tail

Smoking (smoked) - the process of flavoring, cooking, or preserving food by exposing it to the 

smoke from burning or smoldering plant materials, most often wood

Spawning - the action of depositing or laying eggs or sperm (milt)

Species - a group or class of animals or plants having certain common and permanent characteristics 

which clearly distinguish it from other groups

Sturgeon - common name used for species of fish in the family Acipenseridae

Status Review - comprehensive assessments of a species' biological status and its threats, and are 

the basis for making determinations as to whether a species warrants listing under the Endangered

Species Act 

Sub-adult - an animal that has not matured to an age where it can reproduce, but exhibits all external 

traits of the adult

Substrate - the sediment material found on the bottom of a body of water

Swim Bladder - an internal organ that enables fish to control buoyancy; this organ in sturgeon is 

used to make isinglass

Tracking - monitoring movements and activities

Tagging - a way to identify previously caught fish by marking them with wire or a flag; way to track 

fish when tagged with acoustic, PIT, or satellite tags

Tanning - the process of making leather from the skins of animals using tannin, an acidic chemical 

compound

Threatened Species - a species that is likely to become endangered in the future
33 

Turbine - a machine that uses moving water to create energy by passing the water through a series of 

blades

Waterway - any navigable body of water 

Weir - a kind of trap for fishing; fishing weirs were constructed out of sticks that were woven 

together like a basket and configured in different patterns like a maze, where water could flow 

through, but the fish could not leave them 

Yolk Sac - a sac attached to an embryo that provides early nourishment; early stages of larva retain 

the yolk sac for nourishment 

Zooplankton - tiny free floating organisms in aquatic systems that provide food for sturgeon in the 

larval stages 

References

Atlantic Sturgeon Status Review Team (ASSRT). 2007. Status Review of Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser 

oxyrinchus oxyrinchus). Report to the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), 

Northeast Regional Office. February 23, 2007. 174pp.

Birstein, V.J. and William E. Bemis. 1997. How many species are there within the genus Acipenser?

Environmental Biology of Fishes. 48: 157-163.

Greene, K. E., J. L. Zimmerman, R. W. Laney, and J. C. Thomas-Blate. 2009. Atlantic coast diadromous 

fish habitat: A review of utilization, threats, recommendations for conservation, and research 

needs. Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Habitat Management Series No. 9, 

Washington, D.C.

NMFS. 2011. Shortnose sturgeon. http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/fish/shortnosesturgeon.htm

“Sturgeons and Paddlefish of North America.” 2004. Eds. LeBreton, Greg T.O.; F.William H. Beamish; 

and R. Scott McKinley. Kluwer Academic Publishers.

For SCUTES Computer Games Visit: 

Dinosaurs of the Sea

http://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/prot_res/scutes/games/SturgeonDinosaurSea.swf

Eat and run

http://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/prot_res/scutes/games/SturgeonEatNRun.swf

Dinosaurs of the Sea Eat and Run
34 

Answer Key

 Historic Sturgeon Migratory Sturgeon

 

What’s Missing From These Sturgeon? Foraging

1. Dorsal fin, Anal fin How many prey items can you find?

2. Barbels, Gills 

3. Eye, Middle row of scutes, Caudal fin 13 

 Life Cycle and Physiology All Stirred Up!

 Subadult: L Anadromous: F 

 Isinglass: E Bottom Feeder: H

 Protrusible: C Caviar: I 

 Larvae: A Estuary: J 

 Overfishing: B Barbels: G 

 Forage: D Yolksac: K 

 

 Bonus word: Sturgeon 

 

Threats to Atlantic and Shortnose Sturgeons

 

P P R L E A T H E R C

B R O S M O K E D I R

I I E C U R I O U S E

S M L H D T L I G H T

I I T F I S H E R Y A

N T F R N S F I R E C

G I O S O S T D T T E

L V S B S Y M O I L O

A E S C A V I A R G U

S M I J U M P I N I S

S I L R R S W I M Y C

P N S D S A L T I N G

B L E S T U A R Y C T

S A P E B B L E S M E

Y P H F L O W B T T M

A N A D R O M O U S P

T R B W T T Y C R U E

L P I V N M G E G B R

A R T V U I R A E S A

N T A Y E G N N O T T

T S T M G R I G N R U

I L E G R A V E L A R

C C O A S T A L S T E

S A L T W E D G E E V

P J U V E N I L E S N

V R B A E L T S L M P

F D O R S A L C A O E

R T L T M C E U R P C

Y P Y B R A G T V Y T

O E S N E U G E A G O

L L F Y N D S S E G R

K V I F S A D I Y I A

S I N O R L M P B L L

A C M P B A R B E L S

C F D F T M P A B S E

B G S U B A D U L T S
35 

Draw yourself 

under the hat so 

you can become a 

SCUTES Tracker, 

just like me.

SCUTES TRACKER
36 

For Additional Information,

Please Contact: 

NOAA Fisheries Service

Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office

Protected Resources Division

55 Great Republic Drive

Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930

978.281.9328

http://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/scutes

https://www.facebook.com/usnoaafisheriesSCUTESgov

CREDITS

Graphic design, illustration, content, 

and concept development by

Sarah Walsh Laporte

Edited by Edith Carson