Shortnose Sturgeon Webinar

Learn about the Merrimack River’s most unusual and endangered fish, the shortnose sturgeon!

When: May 10th at 7pm

Micah Kieffer, a fishery biologist with the US Geological Survey, is the region’s expert on sturgeon migrations and populations. He will talk about his field research on sturgeon, and will discuss their gradual return to the Merrimack — a river where centuries ago they lived in vast numbers and were once an important source of food for Native Americans and colonists. Sturgeon, an endangered species, were nearly extinct in the Merrimack, but have been charting a slow and steady return.

Sturgeon are an unusual species of fish. They live long lives, possess armored plates instead of scales, and are known for their startling habit of leaping 2 to 3 feet out of the water. They are an ancient species that has a fossil record extending back to the time of dinosaurs.
This program is sponsored by Merrimack River Watershed Council, a non-profit focused on cleaning and protecting the Merrimack.