The Great White Sturgeon Compared to Other Sturgeon Species

There are over 30 species of sturgeon found across the world.  All have a distinctive “sturgeon” look, but there are many differences between each species.

When you fish with Yves Bisson in the Fraser River about 1 hr East of Vancouver Canada, you are fishing for the Great White Sturgeon – the biggest and most sought-after sturgeon of them all.

The Great White Sturgeon (*Acipenser transmontanus*) is the species that stands out the most within the sturgeon family. This article explores the size, habitat, diet, and reproductive behavior, of the Great White Sturgeon in comparison to its sturgeon relatives.

Size and Longevity

The most defining features of the Great White Sturgeon is its size. It is the largest freshwater fish species in the world, and have been known to reach over 20 feet in length and weighing over 1,500 pounds (680 kg) (Becker, 1983). As a comparison to the Atlantic sturgeon typically grows to a maximum of 12 feet (3.6 meters) and weighs up to 800 pounds (363 kg) (Miller et al., 2008).

The Siberian sturgeon, another large species, can reach lengths of around 15 feet (4.5 meters) but is generally lighter than the Great White Sturgeon. Smaller species like the shortnose sturgeon usually grow to about 3 to 4 feet (0.9 to 1.2 meters) and weigh less than 100 pounds (45 kg) (Smith et al., 2002).

In addition to its size, the Great White Sturgeon is known for its long lifespan, and have been known to live for over 100 years. This lifespan is significantly longer than that of the Atlantic sturgeon, which typically lives for 20 to 30 years, and the shortnose sturgeon, which may live up to 40 years (NOAA, 2022).

The largest Great White Sturgeon caught in the Fraser River over the past 20 years is just over 12 feet.  There have been no recorded sturgeon tagged over 13 feet in decades. Yves Bisson has caught several 11-12+ ft sturgeon over his 20 years of guiding.

Habitat

The Great White Sturgeon is primarily found in the Pacific Northwest of North America, such as the Columbia River in Washington USA and the Fraser River in British Columbia. The largest of this species is found in the Lower Fraser River, near Vancouver. The Great White Sturgeon thrives in deep, slow-moving freshwater environments, where it can find ample food and suitable breeding grounds. This fish can live in both salt and freshwater environments, but will spend the majority of its life in the rivers.

The Atlantic sturgeon is often found in coastal waters and migrates into rivers to spawn, requiring a mix of freshwater and saltwater habitats (Auer, 1996). The Siberian sturgeon is typically found in large lakes and rivers in Siberia and has a preference for deeper waters (Mikhailov, 2000).

The Russian sturgeon, is native to the Caspian and Black Sea basins and is known to inhabit brackish water environments, showing a greater tolerance for salinity than the Great White Sturgeon (Ludwig et al., 2001). The stellate sturgeon, which inhabits the northern Black Sea, is also known for its tolerance of varying salinity levels, making it more adaptable to coastal environments (Birstein, 1993).

The lake sturgeon (*Acipenser fulvescens*), found in North America’s Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins, prefers rivers with clean gravel and sand substrates for spawning (Miller et al., 2008). This species typically inhabits a range of freshwater environments, including lakes and rivers.

Diet and Feeding Behavior

Like other sturgeon, the Great White Sturgeon is a bottom feeder, utilizing its sensitive barbels to detect prey buried in the riverbed. However, its larger size enables it to consume a broader array of prey, including larger mollusks, small fish, and crustaceans (Pine et al., 2005). In comparison, the Atlantic sturgeon primarily feeds on invertebrates and small fish. The Siberian sturgeon has a similar diet but is more specialized, often targeting specific species of fish and crustaceans (Mikhailov, 2000). The Russian sturgeon feeds on a varied diet, including fish and invertebrates, but may also consume detritus and organic matter found in its habitat (Ludwig et al., 2001). The shortnose sturgeon typically feeds on small invertebrates, such as insect larvae and crustaceans, reflecting its smaller size (Smith et al., 2002). The stellate sturgeon, known for its smaller stature, primarily consumes zooplankton and small benthic organisms, which is consistent with its ecological role in the Black Sea (Birstein, 1993). The lake sturgeon primarily feeds on invertebrates, including insects and crustaceans, and occasionally small fish. (Miller et al., 2008).

Reproductive Behavior

Reproductive strategies also vary among sturgeon species. The Great White Sturgeon typically migrates long distances to reach its spawning grounds, often in the late spring, where females release eggs in fast-moving water, which are then fertilized by males (Clemens et al., 2007). This reliance on specific river conditions for spawning success underscores the importance of healthy river ecosystems for the species’ reproduction.

The Atlantic sturgeon also migrates to spawn but is known to prefer estuaries, where it can find suitable spawning grounds (Auer, 1996). The Siberian sturgeon  can spawn in both freshwater and marine habitats (Mikhailov, 2000). The Russian sturgeon migrates to specific spawning areas in river systems (Ludwig et al., 2001).

The shortnose sturgeon spawns in freshwater environments, often in the upper reaches of rivers, similar to the Great White Sturgeon, but it typically has a shorter migration distance (Smith et al., 2002).

References

 - Becker, G. C. (1983). *Fishes of Wisconsin*. University of Wisconsin Press.

- Birstein, V. J. (1993). *Sturgeon: A unique ancient fish group*. In *Sturgeons and paddlefish: Biology and conservation* (pp. 99-109). Springer.

- Clemens, B. J., et al. (2007). *Status of the White Sturgeon in the Columbia River Basin: A Review of the Literature and New Insights*. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, 136(5), 1224–1240.

- Ludwig, A., et al. (2001). *Status and conservation of sturgeons in the Caspian Sea*. Environmental Biology of Fishes, 60(1), 43-61.

- Mikhailov, K. I. (2000). *Siberian Sturgeon: Current Status and Conservation*. Journal of Ichthyology, 40(4), 299-309.

- Miller, M. A., et al. (2008). *Ecology and conservation of lake sturgeon in North America*. Fisheries, 33(12), 626-634.

- NOAA Fisheries. (2022). *Life History of the White Sturgeon*. Retrieved from [NOAA Fisheries](https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/white-sturgeon).

- Pine, W. E., et al. (2005). *Dietary Overlap Among Sturgeon Species in the Upper Mississippi River*. North American Journal of Fisheries Management, 25(1), 101–109.

- Smith, T. I. J., et al. (2002). *Shortnose Sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) Recovery Plan*. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.