ly to severely degraded. Dredging and filling dis-
turbs benthic fauna, eliminates deep holes and al-
ters rock substrates, all important to sturgeon. An-
ecdotal evidence indicates that old river bottom not
subjected to maintenance dredging is preferred by
Atlantic sturgeon (Taub5). Contaminants have not
been intensively examined in the Atlantic sturgeon
but an early study indicated that concentrations of
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in St. Lawrence
and Hudson River Atlantic sturgeon generally ex-
ceeded Food and Drug Administration guidelines
(2 mg 1-1) for human consumption (Murawski & Pa-
checo^1 ). In 1986, New York Department of Environ-
mental Conservation analyzed Atlantic sturgeon
from the Hudson River and found low levels (0.15
to 1.70 mg 1-1) in all tissues except the brain which
contained an average concentration of 7.92 mg 1-1
PCBs (Sloan 1987). Gulf sturgeon collected from a
number of rivers from 1985 to 1991 were analyzed
for pesticides and heavy metals (Bateman &
Brim13). Concentrations of arsenic, mercury, DDT
metabolites, toxaphene, polycyclic aromatic hydro-
carbons, and aliphatic hydrocarbons were suffi-
ciently high to warrant concern. Such products are
known to cause reproductive failure, reduced sur-
vival, and various physiological alterations in fish.
(^13) Bateman, D. H. & M. S. Brim. 1994. Environmental contami-
nants in Gulf sturgeon of northwest Florida 1985-1991. USFWS,
Pub. No. PCFO-EC 94-09, Panama City. 23 pp.
Table2. Ex-vessel price ($ per kgwhole weight) for Atlantic stur-
geon landed in New York, New Jersey and Georgia during 1988-
1992*.
Year Price ($ per kg)
New York New Jersey Georgia
1988 2.46 2.70 8.13
1989 3.03 3.02 7.86
1990 3.98 3.99 10.00
1991 4.02 2.36 12.50
1992 4.44 3.53 13.37
Mean 3.59 3.12 10.37
- Based on NMFS data and G. Rogers personal communication.
Figure 2.Ex-vessel value and landings for the Atlantic sturgeon
fishery from 1980-1992.
Value and employment
The former sturgeon fisheries were economically
important and provided substantial direct (fisher-
men) and indirect employment such as net manu-
facturing, boat building, food processing, and ship-
ping (Murawski & Pacheco^1 ). Today, however, stur-
geon fisheries have an insignificant impact on coast-
al economies and provide no full time employment.
Sturgeon fishermen now number approximately
100 (35 in Canada; 65 in U.S.) and all use the fishery
as a source of supplemental income.
The reported ex-vessel value of U.S. landings of
Atlantic sturgeon has fluctuated from $59 000 to
$365 000 (mean $155 000) during the period 1980 to
- During this time, landings have ranged from
about 40 to 100 mt while ex-vessel price and value
have increased (Figure 2). Average price during
1980 - 1982 was $1.27 per kg whole weight and $3.58
per kg during 1990-1992. When the ex-vessel prices
and values of the fishery are adjusted for inflation
during this period (deflated using Consumer Price
Index for fishery products), there has been a 53%
increase in real ex-vessel price and a 41% increase
in real value of the Atlantic sturgeon fishery since
1980 - 1982. States reporting landings based partially
on incidental captures and landings of juveniles
have a lower mean ex-vessel price than those with
directed fisheries where adults are harvested. For
example, ex-vessel prices during 1988-1992 for
landings from NY and NJ (where much of the har-
vest is subadults) averaged $3.59 per kg and $3.12