A white sturgeon is shown in an undated image. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife in June approved the fish as a candidate for threatened status under the California Endangered Species Act. CDFW is currently accepting public comments on the proposal. (California Department of Fish and Wildlife via Bay City News)
The white sturgeon, the largest freshwater fish in North America, may be protected as a threatened species, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said.
White sturgeon, which can live as long as 100 years, spawn in the large rivers of the Central Valley and mostly reside in the Delta and San Francisco Bay, the department said. They also sometimes range along the coast and enter bays and rivers, it said.
Threats include man-made changes to river flows, toxic harmful algal blooms, overfishing, poaching, collisions with large vessels and climate change.
The San Francisco Baykeeper, The Bay Institute, Restore the Delta and California Sportfishing Protection Alliance have petitioned the California Fish and Game Commission to list the white sturgeon as a threatened species.
CDFW is asking for comments to be submitted before Oct. 31. They can be mailed to California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Anadromous Fish Conservation and Management Program, Attn: White Sturgeon, P.O. Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94244-2090. Alternatively, comments can be submitted via email; include “white sturgeon CESA” in the subject line.
Fishing for feedback: Public can weigh in on threatened species status for white sturgeon
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The white sturgeon, the largest freshwater fish in North America, may be protected as a threatened species, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said.
The department is seeking comments on a petition to safeguard the fish under the California Endangered Species Act.
White sturgeon, which can live as long as 100 years, spawn in the large rivers of the Central Valley and mostly reside in the Delta and San Francisco Bay, the department said. They also sometimes range along the coast and enter bays and rivers, it said.
Threats include man-made changes to river flows, toxic harmful algal blooms, overfishing, poaching, collisions with large vessels and climate change.
The San Francisco Baykeeper, The Bay Institute, Restore the Delta and California Sportfishing Protection Alliance have petitioned the California Fish and Game Commission to list the white sturgeon as a threatened species.
CDFW is asking for comments to be submitted before Oct. 31. They can be mailed to California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Anadromous Fish Conservation and Management Program, Attn: White Sturgeon, P.O. Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94244-2090. Alternatively, comments can be submitted via email; include “white sturgeon CESA” in the subject line.