Lawsuits Target States Over Endangered Atlantic Sturgeon Losses

Overview

• Three federal lawsuits have been filed by the Delaware Riverkeeper Network and Hudson Riverkeeper against New York, New Jersey, and Delaware.
• The lawsuits claim the states violated the Endangered Species Act by not obtaining permits for incidental sturgeon bycatch in commercial fishing.
• Environmentalists argue that the Atlantic sturgeon's recovery is jeopardized by unintentional capture in nets targeting other fish species.
• The Atlantic sturgeon has been listed as endangered since 2012, with populations declining due to pollution, dam construction, and historical overfishing.
• State environmental agencies have declined to comment on the litigation, which seeks to enforce compliance with federal protections.