At a glance
- IUCN category
- VU · Vulnerable
- Animal group
- Fish
- Population trend
- Stable
- FaunaHub record reviewed
- Checked against IUCN
- Matches source — IUCN's 2022 global assessment of Acipenser brevirostrum says VulnerableChecked 2026-10-09 against IUCN's Red List export published 2026-07-28 · assessment
Conservation overview
The shortnose sturgeon is a small sturgeon of eastern North American rivers and estuaries. It is assessed as Vulnerable.
It moves between fresh and brackish water and matures slowly.
Range & habitat
Rivers and estuaries along the Atlantic coast of North America.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Dams blocking migration
- Pollution and habitat change
- Past overfishing and bycatch
Why it matters
A river-and-estuary sturgeon affected by dams and pollution, the shortnose sturgeon is a flagship for restoring connected, clean coastal rivers.
Sources
Sources for Shortnose Sturgeon
- IUCN Red List — look up Shortnose Sturgeon (authoritative status)
- NOAA Fisheries
- FishBase
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the shortnose sturgeon live?
In rivers and estuaries along the Atlantic coast of North America, moving between fresh and brackish water rather than ranging far out to sea.
Why is the shortnose sturgeon Vulnerable?
Published assessments cite dams blocking migration, pollution and habitat change, and past overfishing and bycatch. See the IUCN Red List.