Sturgeons are an ancient dweller in the river. The species has been swimming in rivers and lakes for over 200 million years; or in other terms, this fish swam with dinosaurs. Amazingly, evolution has not taken as much of a toll on this fish as time would suggest. Not only have sturgeon stood the test of time, but they can also live for over 100 years; imagine the wisdom and knowledge the sturgeon has accumulated; imagine the change it has observed.

 

There are a variety of human interactions with the sturgeon. Fishermen regard the sturgeon as the pinnacle of freshwater river fish due to their great size and unique looks. Unfortunately, fishing has led to the discovery of caviar. This expensive food has turned the fish into a commodity, and sturgeon are overfished around the world. Moreover, dams and pollution are also decreasing the fish’s population to extinction. As an indicator species for the overall health of a river, the extinction of sturgeon is telling us that the natural world is unhealthy because we are abusing nature for our own economic gain. 

 

Thankfully, there are human relationships that have coexisted with sturgeon. The Native Americans respected the fish and practiced sustainable fishing techniques, and conservationists today are trying to artificially repopulate the sturgeon. By learning from these relationships with the sturgeon, we can learn to coexist with nature.

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-Patrick Mark