The last known Alabama sturgeon has died in captivity
at the Marion Fish Hatchery
Efforts to save one of the rarest fish in North America took a blow recently, when the only remaining Alabama sturgeon in captivity died.
It was the last fish of its kind to be seen since 1999. State fisheries workers think Bubba, as the fish was known, died last month of old age. Researchers have been trying to catch a pair of sturgeon to start a breeding program.
Nick Nichols, an assistant fisheries chief, says they've had both males and females, but never a viable pair at the same time. But he says thanks to Bubba, the breeding program is a little closer to being a reality.
"Back in the Spring, prior to losing the fish, we collected some milt. Hopefuly in the future, when we are able to collect a female, we can use the milt to fertilize the eggs." said Nichols.
The search for a viable female Alabama sturgeon will intensify in October and November. Nichols says that's when search crews have historically had the most success catching them.
"We're continuing with the program, and hope to have crews out on a more frequent basis this fall as the water temperature cools. We're also set to carry on further collection effort in Spring of 2003." he said.
The strange prehistoric looking, orangish fish once flourished in the Alabama river. However, it now is considered to be on the edge of extinction due to years of damming, dredging, pollution and overfishing in its habitat.
Meanwhile, Bubba's body has been frozen. It will soon be transported the icktheology department at the University of Alabama, where the four other fish caught by the program are being held. Bubba was the fifth fish caught by the collecting program since it started in 1997.
go to DCO's original Alabama sturgeon report
|
|
|
|||||||
read other reports about the endangered Alabama sturgeon
go sturgeon hunting with the Alabama sturgeon research team
read about Bubba in the Deep Freeze
| |
|
|
|
Local Links