They have a relatively complex life history that includes spawning and juvenile rearing in rivers followed by migrating to saltwater to feed, grow, and mature before returning to freshwater to spawn. Age at first spawning (ranging from 5 to 7 years for shovelnose sturgeon) is much delayed in comparison to other fishes, and female sturgeons may not spawn for intervals of several years (Wallus et al. The Alabama sturgeon has apparently disappeared from the upper Tombigbee, lower Black Warrior, lower Tallapoosa, and upper Cahaba, where it was last reported in the 1960's; the lower Coosa, last reported around 1970; the lower Tombigbee, last reported around 1975; and lower Cahaba, last reported in 1985 (Clemmer 1983; Burke and Ramsey 1985, 1995; Williams and Clemmer 1991; Mayden and Kuhajda 1996).

Common to both definitions is an appreciable detrimental effect to both the survival and recovery of a listed species. You should direct questions regarding whether specific activities will constitute a violation of section 9, should the sturgeon be listed, to the Field Supervisor of our Jackson Field Office (see ADDRESSES section). In 1990 and 1992, biologists from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR), with the assistance of the Corps, conducted searches for Alabama sturgeon using a variety of sampling techniques, without success (Tucker and Johnson 1991, 1992).

The Corps has constructed 67 channel training works (jetties) at 16 locations in the lower Alabama River, eliminating about 60 percent of dredging requirements at those locations. On October 25, 1993 (58 FR 55036), we published a notice announcing a second public hearing date, reopening the comment period, and stating the availability of a panel report. Bony plates cover the head, back, and sides. These factors and their application to the Alabama sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus suttkusi) are as follows: The present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of its habitat or range. On September 15, 1994 (59 FR 47294), we published another notice that further extended the comment period and sought additional comments on only the scientific point of whether the Alabama sturgeon still existed. biological and habitat needs. These species are listed because they occurred historically in Alabama or because potential habitat in Alabama borders their current range. A variety of public and private groups, including the Service, Army Corps of Engineers, Geological Survey of Alabama, Auburn University, the Alabama-Tombigbee Rivers Coalition, and the Mobile River Basin Coalition are participating in, and/or endorse, implementation of this plan. These prohibitions, in part, make it illegal for any person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to take (includes harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, or collect; or to attempt any of these), import or export, ship in interstate commerce in the course of commercial activity, or sell or offer for sale in interstate or foreign commerce any listed species. The decline is believed to be due to over fishing, loss of habitat due to navigation related development, including dams, and poor water quality. and most likely, when released back into the wild, will lead fisheries Current threats primarily result from its small population numbers and its inability to offset mortality rates with reproduction and recruitment. were unable to capture it, one of those researchers confirmed this The primary threat to the Alabama sturgeon has been identified as its small numbers and its apparent inability to offset mortality rates with current reproduction rates (see factor E). Designation of unoccupied habitat as critical habitat may, in certain instances, provide additional protection to that afforded by the jeopardy standard.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Hartfield at the above address (telephone 601/965-4900, extension 25; facsimile 601/965-4340). Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services Division, 1875 Century Boulevard, Atlanta, Georgia 30345 (telephone 404/679-7313; facsimile 404/679-7081). Based on estimates of sequence divergence at the mitochondrial cytochrome b locus, they concluded that the Alabama, shovelnose, and pallid sturgeons were indistinguishable. Accordingly, the Service proposes to amend part 17, subchapter B of chapter I, title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as set forth below: The authority citation for part 17 continues to read as follows: Authority: 16 U.S.C. This fish was also transported to the Marion Fish Hatchery, where both fish are being held for potential use as broodstock. AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

As noted in the ``Available Conservation Measures'' section, a collaborative effort by public and private partners to address this threat and conserve the Alabama sturgeon was initiated in 1997. More, The last known Alabama sturgeon has died in captivity

However, the 1995 study also noted that two of the Alabama sturgeon differed substantially from the third, and recommended additional studies to examine genetic diversity within the Alabama sturgeon population. 1997). The historic population decline of the Alabama sturgeon was probably initiated by unrestricted harvesting near the turn of the century. This development significantly changed and modified extensive portions of river channel habitats; blocked long-distant movements, including migrations; and fragmented and isolated sturgeon populations. In March 1997, the ADCNR implemented the collection component of the conservation plan. A mature fish weighs 1 to 2 kilograms (kg) (2 to 3 pounds (lb)).

Recognition through listing encourages and results in conservation actions by Federal, State, and private agencies, groups, and individuals. Green sturgeon are an anadromous fish, which means they can live in both fresh and saltwater.

State and federal agencies have made up a conservation agreement that consists of three main parts which are captive breeding programs, genetic conservation, and they are protecting what habitat they have left. The final determination may differ from this proposal based upon the information we receive. comm. The Mobile River Basin Aquatic Ecosystem Recovery Coalition, a partnership comprised of diverse business, environmental, private landowner, and agency interests, has been meeting regularly to participate in recovery planning for 15 listed aquatic species in the Basin (U.S. Other objectives of the plan include habitat restoration and determining life history information essential to effective management of the species. More, State biologists spotted a rare Alabama sturgeon in the spring but In such cases, the species becomes more vulnerable to extinction from natural or human-induced random events (e.g., droughts, floods, competition, variations in prey abundance, toxic spills, etc.

The Alabama sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus suttkusi, is a critically endangered species of sturgeon native to the United States of America and now only believed to exist in 130 miles (210 km) of the lower Alabama River. We published a notice on August 24, 1993 (58 FR 44643), canceling and rescheduling the hearing. In an unpublished report, Schill and Walker (1994) used tissue samples from the Alabama sturgeon collected in 1993 to compare the three nominal Scaphirhynchus species. Depths at these areas (5 to 15 m (15 to 45 ft)) are well below the minimum navigation maintenance depth of 3 m (9 ft). The d-loop is considered to be a rapidly evolving part of the genome.