Lawsuits Target States Over Endangered Atlantic Sturgeon Losses

Environmental groups accuse New York, New Jersey, and Delaware of failing to protect the Atlantic sturgeon from commercial fishing bycatch.

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.