51813_Sturgeon biodioversity an.PDF

per kg, respectively (Table 2). In GA, where there is
a directed gill net fishery focused on capture of roe
females, the ex-vessel average price was $10.37 per
kg during the same period.
A detailed analysis of the South Carolina fishery
was performed for 1977 to 1982 and the total value
of the caviar exceeded the total value of the flesh
(Smith et al. 1984). In SC, the ex-vessel price of pro-
cessed caviar was $66 per kg versus $2.42 per kg for
the dressed carcass in 1982. The current prices for
caviar in GA are about $121 per kg ex-vessel, $278
per kg wholesale, and $350 per kg retail (Bertha
Boone, Walters Caviar Co. personal communica-
tion). In New York, prices as high as $220 per kg
ex-vessel have been reported (Holloway 1994).
During 1993, ex-vessel dressed carcass (headless,
finless and gutted) price was about $5-7 per kg in
GA but after further processing and smoking in NY,

the product retailed for $33-40 per kg (Bertha

Boone, Walter’s Caviar Co., personal communica-

tion).

Management

Until recently, management of Atlantic sturgeon

was the responsibility of the individual states and

other regional jurisdictional entities. This resulted

in a wide diversity of regulations involving licens-

ing, harvest size, fishing gear, seasons, and reporting

requirements (Smith 1985, Taub^5 ). In U.S. waters,

lack of uniform regulations is no longer a problem

but in Canadian waters, sturgeon fishery regula-

tions are different for the St. Lawrence and Saint

John Rivers (Table 3).

In 1990, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries

Table 3. Management regulations for taking Atlantic sturgeon,Acipenser o. oxyrinchus ,in 1994. Harvesting of Gulf sturgeon,Acipenser

oxyrinchus desotoi,is prohibited.

Area Type of fishery Laws and regulations

Canada

St. Lawrence R. directed

St. John R. directed

United States

Maine closed landings prohibited

New Hampshire closed landings prohibited

Massachusetts closed landings prohibited

Rhode Island

Connecticut

New York directed and

amount of gill net limited by fishing zone; minimum gill net stretch mesh 17.5 cm; net owner

identification

minimum fish length 122 cm TL; minimum gill net stretch mesh 33 cm; open season except

June

incidental

incidental

incidental

minimum fish size 213 cm TL, license required in freshwater

minimum fish size 213 cm TL; trawl license required; maximum of 3 fish per day per vessel

minimum fish size 152 cm TL; special sturgeon license required; open seasons: 15 May- 15

Jun in Hudson R. and marine district; 1 Oct-30 Nov in marine district; landed fish must be

tagged, reported, and biological data collected

minimum fish size 152 cm TL; special sturgeon license required; individual quotas; logbook

records; allow access to fish for collection of biological data

minimum fish size 213 cm TL; commercial finfish license required; maximum gill net stretch

mesh size 8.9 cm

minimum fish size 213 cm TL; commercial gill net license required

New Jersey directed and

incidental

Pennsylvania closed landings prohibited

Maryland

Delaware

Virginia closed landings prohibited

North Carolina closed landings prohibited

South Carolina closed landings prohibited

Georgia

Florida closed landings prohibited

incidental

directed

directed minimum fish size 213 cm TL; minimum gill net stretch mesh 30 cm; gill nets only; open

season 15 Feb-15 Apr, commercial saltwater fishing license required