A young visitor to the 2022 Sturgeon Fest event at Nicandri Nature Center, Massena, NY. Credit: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Contact:

Stacy Furgal, Great Lakes Fisheries and Ecosystem Health Specialist, New York Sea Grant, E: slf85@cornell.edu, P: (315) 312-3042

NYSG and DEC, alongside many partners, coordinated a seven-event series to celebrate the continuing recovery of three of New York’s unique sturgeon species

Oswego, NY, March 23, 2023 - Sturgeon are ancient fishes, often referred to as “living dinosaurs.” Statewide, New York is home to three species of sturgeon: lake, Atlantic and shortnose. Populations of all three species suffered near extirpation in the late 1800s due to impacts from overfishing, water pollution, and dam construction. By law, New York State protects all three species (Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon are also federally protected). All three fish have important ecological, cultural, and historical significance.

Alongside fisheries managers, scientists, stakeholders, and communities, New York Sea Grant (NYSG) has supported the conservation of sturgeon. Through the efforts of these partnerships, the populations of all three species of sturgeon in New York are rebounding. NYSG plays an important role in sharing the story of sturgeon and increasing public awareness of these New York-native fishes and the habitats which they rely on to survive and thrive.

In the fall of 2022, NYSG collaborated with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and several partners statewide to develop, coordinate, and offer a seven-event Celebration of Sturgeon series. More than 1500 people attended the interactive, educational events in locations spanning from Massena in the rural northern region of the state to urban areas along the Hudson River, in Rochester, and in western New York State. As part of the events, attendees were made aware of NYSG’s Lake Sturgeon Intermediate Curriculum for middle school educators.

This 2022 Celebration of Sturgeon event series harnessed the power of collaboration to reach new audiences to increase awareness of sturgeon conservation and interest in New York fisheries statewide.

Partners: 

• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation 
• New York Power Authority and Nicandri Nature Center 
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
• U.S. Geological Survey 
• Aquarium of Niagara 
• Seneca Park Zoo 
• New York Sturgeon for Tomorrow 
• New York State Office of Parks 
• Recreation and Historic Preservation


More Info: New York Sea Grant

New York Sea Grant (NYSG), a cooperative program of Cornell University and the State University of New York (SUNY), is one of 34 university-based programs under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Sea Grant College Program.

Since 1971, NYSG has represented a statewide network of integrated research, education and extension services promoting coastal community economic vitality, environmental sustainability and citizen awareness and understanding about the State’s marine and Great Lakes resources.

Through NYSG’s efforts, the combined talents of university scientists and extension specialists help develop and transfer science-based information to many coastal user groups—businesses and industries, federal, state and local government decision-makers and agency managers, educators, the media and the interested public.

The program maintains Great Lakes offices at Cornell University, SUNY Buffalo, SUNY Oswego and the Wayne County Cooperative Extension office in Newark. In the State's marine waters, NYSG has offices at Stony Brook University in Long Island, Brooklyn College and Cornell Cooperative Extension in NYC and Kingston in the Hudson Valley.

For updates on Sea Grant activities: www.nyseagrant.org has RSS, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube links. NYSG offers a free e-list sign up via www.nyseagrant.org/nycoastlines for its flagship publication, NY Coastlines/Currents, which is published quarterly.