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Chinese Sturgeon

Chinese Sturgeon

Acipenser sinensis

Chinese sturgeon illustration. Credit: Jack Hornady.

Protected Status

ESA Endangered - Foreign
Throughout Its Range
CITES Appendix II
Throughout Its Range

Quick Facts

Weight
Up to 990 pounds
Lifespan
At least 35 years
Length
Up to 16 feet
Threats
Entanglement in fishing gear, Habitat degradation, Habitat impediments, Pollution
Region
Foreign
See Regulatory Actions

About the Species

The Chinese sturgeon is found in the freshwater Yangtze River as well as marine waters off the coast of China. The Chinese sturgeon is listed as endangered throughout its range under the Endangered Species Act.

Protected Status

ESA Endangered - Foreign

  • Throughout Its Range

CITES Appendix II

  • Throughout Its Range

Scientific Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Order Acipenseriformes
Family Acipenseridae
Genus Acipenser
Species sinensis

In the Spotlight

Management Overview

The Chinese sturgeon is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

Regulatory History

In 2012, WildEarth Guardians and Friends of Animals petitioned NOAA Fisheries to list 15 foreign sturgeon species under the Endangered Species Act. After completing a status review, we proposed to list five of the foreign sturgeon species as endangered, including the Chinese sturgeon, and requested public comment. In 2014, we listed the Chinese sturgeon as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

Key Actions and Documents

Actions & Documents

5-Year Review of Five Foreign Sturgeon Species

In 2020, NMFS announced the initiation of a 5-year review for five foreign sturgeon species: Adriatic Sturgeon (Acipenser naccarii), European sturgeon (A. sturio), Chinese sturgeon (A. sinensis), Sakhalin sturgeon (A. mikadoi), and Kaluga sturgeon (Huso…
Notice
,
Foreign
Published
07/20/2021

Final Rule to List Five Species of Sturgeons as Endangered Under the Endangered Species Act

We, NOAA Fisheries, issue a final determination to list five species of foreign sturgeon as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We have made our determination that Acipenser naccarii (Adriatic sturgeon), and A. sturio (European sturgeon)…
Final Rule
,
National
Effective
07/02/2014

More Information

Science Overview

Documents

Document

5 Foreign Sturgeon 5-Year Review

A 5-year review is a periodic analysis of a species’ status conducted to ensure that the listing…

National
Document

Status Review for 5 species of Foreign Sturgeon : Adriatic sturgeon, European Sturgeon, Chinese Sturgeon, Sakhalin Sturgeon, Kaluga Sturgeon

This report is the status review for five species of foreign sturgeon. This report summarizes the…

International
More Documents