From Canada to Florida along the Atlantic Coast, the Atlantic sturgeon was once abundant, but its numbers have declined significantly due to overfishing and water pollution.

In colonial times, they were harvested for food and a leathery material used for clothing and bookbinding. Now, sturgeons are used mainly to produce caviar.

The fish does not have scales, but rather bony plates on five rows, called scutes. It can live to 60 years of age, 15 feet in length and over 800 pounds.

Born in brackish water, they stay there until at least six years of age before moving into the ocean. The fish is also known for "leaping" out of the water, creating a hazard for anyone in the way. No one knows exactly why they do this.

In February 2012, the Atlantic Sturgeon was officially classified as an endangered species by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service. Cape Fear River Watch reports that the Carolina section of this species was first identified as a candidate for the endangered list in 1991, and now the spawning populations have plummeted to less than 3% of their historic levels.

Some of the threats to the fish include water quality, dredging, climactic changes, incidental catch, and dams. The presence of dams has resulted in a 60% habitat loss for the sturgeon and, sadly, the 40% of habitat left has suffered a decline in water quality, making it not ideal for spawning.

Yet another hurdle the Atlantic Sturgeon will face in the future is the possibility of Titan Cement moving into an area very close to spawning grounds.