As of the time of writing (April 23, 1998) there is no pending U.S legislation regarding the preservation of sturgeons. The most recent legislation that pertains to sturgeons involves an amendment to re-designate a segment of the Columbia River as recreational. The corresponding bills, H.R. 1477 and S. 200 of the 105th Congressional, are archived at http://rs9.loc.gov/home/thomas.html. These bills would not actually affect the status of the sturgeon at Hanford Reach, a segment of the Columbia River in south central Washington state. However, the increased recreational activity could have detrimental effects on the spawning grounds of the sturgeon and perhaps cause increased poaching.
On the international front, the U.N. has raised the issue of depleting sturgeon stock in the Caspian Sea. A call for an international policy governing this endangerment was raised and documented in the General Assembly Plenary - 9 - Press Release GA/9271 Nineteenth Special Session ENV/DEV/437 8th Meeting (PM) 26 June 1997.
As of April 1, 1998, all sturgeon are listed on CITES Appendix II. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is currently using DNA tests to determine whether imported caviar is accompanied by the correct CITES permit.
Various other foreign initiatives are in place or being proposed, including numerous local protection policies and there is at least one project to create a "commercially viable sturgeon gene bank." (U.N. -- COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Third session 11-28 April 1995)
Below is a table of the status of various sturgeon species on the U.S. Endangered Species List as of April 23, 1998:
Endangered Species Act: Current Database:
Common Name: Sturgeon, Gulf
Scientific Name: Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi
Groups--Animals, Fishes ................................ Listed As--Threatened
Lead Region--4 ...................................... Date First Listed--September
30, 1991
Critical Habitat--None .................... Special Rules--in 50 CFR
17.44(v)
Recovery Priority--12 ............................ Approved Recovery
Plan?--Yes
Federal Register Citation Numbers: First Listing--444, Current Status--444
Historic Range: U.S.A. (AL, FL, GA, LA, MS)
This Status Likely To Occur In: AL, FL, LA, MS
Population To Which This Status Applies: Entire
Common Name: Sturgeon, pallid
Scientific Name: Scaphirhynchus albus
Groups--Animals, Fishes ................................ Listed As--Endangered
Lead Region--6 ...................................... Date First Listed--September
6, 1990
Critical Habitat--None .................... Special Rules--None
Recovery Priority--2C ............................ Approved Recovery
Plan?--Yes
Federal Register Citation Numbers: First Listing--399, Current Status--399
Historic Range: U.S.A. (AR, IA, IL, KS, KY, LA, MO, MS, MT, ND, NE,
SD, TN)
This Status Likely To Occur In: AR, IA, IL, KS, KY, LA, MO, MS, MT,
ND, NE, SD, TN
Population To Which This Status Applies: Entire
Common Name: Sturgeon, shortnose
Scientific Name: Acipenser brevirostrum
Groups--Animals, Fishes ................................ Listed As--Endangered
National Marine Fisheries Service Lead ......................... Date
First Listed--March 11, 1967
Critical Habitat--None .................... Special Rules--None
Federal Register Citation Numbers: First Listing--1, Current Status--1
Historic Range: U.S.A. and Canada (Atlantic Coast)
This Status Likely To Occur In: CT, DE, FL, GA, MA, MD, ME, NC, NJ,
NY, RI, SC, VA
Population To Which This Status Applies: Entire
Common Name: Sturgeon, white (Kootenai River pop.)
Scientific Name: Acipenser transmontanus
Groups--Animals, Fishes ................................ Listed As--Endangered
Lead Region--1 ...................................... Date First Listed--September
6, 1994
Critical Habitat--None .................... Special Rules--None
Recovery Priority--3C ............................ Approved Recovery
Plan?--No
Federal Register Citation Numbers: First Listing--549, Current Status--549
Historic Range: U.S.A. (ID, MT), Canada (B.C.)
This Status Likely To Occur In: ID, MT, Canada (B.C.)
Population To Which This Status Applies: Entire