White Sturgeon - Fishing - Commercial Fishing

Commercial Fishing

Historically, sturgeon have been a very important fish, both commercially and for sporting purposes. At one point, sturgeon populations in all of the Columbia River system were threatened due to overfishing. A commercial fishery began in the 1880s. In 1892, this fishery reached a peak, when over five and one half million pounds (2,500 metric tons) of sturgeon were harvested. By the dawn of the 20th century, the seemingly endless supply of sturgeon was severely depleted. In the 1940s a six-foot maximum size restriction was put in place. The commercial fishing of white sturgeon has remained to this day and was valued at US$10.1 million in 1992.

Non-Indian commercial fisheries for white sturgeon occur in the mainstem Columbia River downstream from Bonneville Dam. These fisheries use gillnets. Commercial sturgeon fishing may be done in conjunction with commercial salmon fishing or may be a targeted fishery. Release mortality on undersize and oversize sturgeon is estimated by state fish and wildlife managers to be low. Generally fisheries are managed with weekly landing limits per fisher. Green sturgeon are sometimes caught but must be released unharmed.

Tribal sturgeon fisheries occur in the mainstem Columbia River between Bonneville Dam and McNary Dam. Tribal fisheries primarily use gillnets and setline gear. Some sturgeon are caught with hook and line gear or hoopnets from platforms along the shore. The tribes have subsistence and commercial fisheries for sturgeon.

Worldwide, sturgeon commercial fisheries use sturgeon for meat and eggs, the eggs being most sought after. Caviar is considered a delicacy in many parts of Europe and North America. In the Columbia River, size restrictions make it very unlikely any fishers ever legally retain egg-bearing fish. The fish caught legally by sport and commercial fishers are too small and not yet sexually mature enough to make harvesting for eggs worthwhile.