What protections would the shovelnose sturgeon receive as a threatened species?
The shovelnose sturgeon would be afforded the protections of the Endangered Species Act which prohibit “take” of a species listed as threatened or endangered. “Take” is defined by the Act as harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct. 4. Why is it necessary to treat the shovelnose sturgeon as a threatened species in order to protect the pallid sturgeon? Shovelnose sturgeon so closely resemble pallid sturgeon that the two species are difficult to differentiate. Law enforcement personnel have difficulty in attempting to differentiate between the two sturgeon species. The roe of the two species cannot be distinguished by genetic analysis, making it difficult to enforce the regulations to prevent harvest of pallid sturgeon and their roe. Commercial harvest of shovelnose sturgeon has resulted in the harvest of pallid sturgeon. This harvest of pallid sturgeon significantly affects the survival and recovery of the spe
