Anadromous species that spawns over areas with large rocks, cobble, and gravels in deep eddies or backflows, and near the head of pools in freshwater. Clean, cold water for proper embryonic development. Nearshore coastal waters and estuaries are also critical habitat.
Limiting factors
Long-lived species with low productivity and relatively low population size. Limited spawning habitat. Predators include sharks and marine mammals. Water quality. Potentially dredging and ocean/estuarine energy projects. Harvest: incidental catch by trawl in the ocean, salmon gillnet fisheries in the Columbia, recreational fisheries in bays, estuaries, and freshwater portion of the Rogue River, and poaching.
Data gaps
Life history, migration, and diet of sub-adults and juveniles. Juvenile habitat use and movements in the Rogue River, and subadult/juvenile movements and habitat use in estuaries and nearshore. Recreational impacts.
Conservation actions
Use species-specific habitat requirements to guide management actions. Recommend recreation opportunities that will minimize disturbance. Minimize incidental catch and bycatch in marine fisheries (nearshore ocean, estuaries, and freshwater (Rogue River)). Ensure that development does not occur in habitat (space and time) that may result in negative impacts to green sturgeon.
Key reference or plan
NOAA Listing Decision (Federal Register Notice), Green Sturgeon Recovery Plan is under review by NMFS and expected to be published during 2015.
