Listing of Gulf Sturgeon Under the ESA

The Service determines the Gulf Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrhynchus desotoi) to be a threatened species, pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended. This rule has been coordinated with NOAA and they have cosigned the document. This large fish ranges from Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana to Tampa Bay in Florida. Gulf sturgeon stocks have been greatly reduced or extirpated throughout much of the historic range by overfishing, dam construction and habitat degradation. This action will implement the protection and recovery provisions afforded by the Act for the Gulf Sturgeon.