Missouri is home to three species of sturgeon; shovelnose, a river sturgeon which is common in our big rivers, and two other species that are rare and considered endangered -- the lake sturgeon and pallid sturgeon (another type of river sturgeon). Lake sturgeon and pallid sturgeon are protected and must be returned to the water unharmed if captured. Biologists are studying these fish and they need information and sightings you have on them.
Lake Sturgeon (also known as rubbernose sturgeon or dogface sturgeon) is the largest of the three species. Most lake sturgeons caught in Missouri weigh 30 pounds or more. This species is found in the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, but is rare. Identifying characteristics are its cone-shaped snout, only 2 lobes on the lower lip, and the barbels not fringed. It lacks the long slender filament on the tail fin which may be found in the other two species.
The two species of river sturgeon (pallid sturgeon and shovelnose sturgeon) are similar in appearance. River sturgeons can be separated from the lake sturgeon by the shovelnose snout, 4 lobes on the lower lip, and the fringed barbels. River sturgeons often have a long, slender filament on the tail fin, but this filament may be broken off in some individuals.
Pallid sturgeon belong to an ancient order of fishes that have managed to survive to modern times. They were once common in the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. Around the turn of the century, this species comprised a large percentage of the commercial fishery catch in those rivers.
Sturgeons in Missouri's two great rivers are suffering from a one-two punch like nothing else in their 150 million-year history. One is changes in the rivers themselves. Channelization for barge traffic has eliminated most of the places they once found shelter, food and spawning sites. The second punch is increased demand for North American sturgeon eggs, which are used to make caviar.
In the past decade, the Caspian Sea sturgeon fishery has collapsed, spurring demand for substitutes to replace pricey Russian "beluga" caviar. North American sturgeon eggs, called "roe," bring $30 to $70 a pound. Caviar made from Missouri shovelnose sturgeon roe commands a price of $275 to $300 per 14-ounce tin.
The Department of Conservation continues work to study sturgeon and develop management practices to prevent overharvesting and improve conditions for this fish. One way the Department studies sturgeon is through tagging. Tagging fish helps the Conservation Department gain knowledge that enables it to do a better job of managing them. Tagging studies can provide insights about how many fish are present, how long they live, how fast they grow, where they travel and how anglers affect their populations.
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