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Rare fish found in Connecticut River between Massachusetts and Vermont

By Ashley Shook,

8 hours ago

TURNERS FALLS, Mass. (WWLP) – Evidence of a prehistoric fish on the endangered species list has been detected in the Connecticut River.

The shortnose sturgeon is found in major rivers along the East Coast of North America from Florida to New Brunswick, Canada, according to Mass.gov . However, the Connecticut River Conservancy said their presence has declined due to the numerous dams, habitat degradation, and commercial fishing for migrating upstream.

The shortnose sturgeon is a prehistoric fish that dates back to the time of dinosaurs, around 136 million years ago. Shortnose sturgeon is one of the largest fish species in Massachusetts inland waters. They vary in color from yellow-brown to black-olive on the dorsal surface and have a white belly. They do not have many scales but have five rows of bony plates that are called scutes.

They typically spawn in large freshwater rivers and migrate from the mouths of rivers, traveling 10 to 100 miles to reach suitable spawning upstream. They can live up to 60 years, and do not reach reproductive maturity until they are 10–12 years old.

According to Robert E. Barrett Fishway , 64 shortnose sturgeon went through the Holyoke Fish Lift in 2023, the highest amount since 2018 with a count of 90. There have been zero recorded in 2024.

The Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC) detected shortnose sturgeon DNA in the Connecticut River between Turners Falls, MA, and Bellows Falls, VT/Walpole, NH. In working with a group of volunteers, water samples were collected in June and July from Northfield, Mass., Vernon, Vermont, and Westmoreland, NH. The results determined the presence of the rare species.

They are protected under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act, it is illegal to possess shortnose sturgeon. MassWildlife says if you accidentally catch a sturgeon while fishing, release it as gently and quickly as possible, even if you need to cut the line, and never take the fish out of the water.

“While a breeding population of shortnose sturgeon is known to exist downstream of Turners Falls, from a regulatory standpoint, shortnose sturgeon do not exist upstream of there,” noted CRC’s River Steward for New Hampshire, Dr. Kate Buckman. “Community members have reported anecdotal sturgeon sightings in New Hampshire and Vermont waters, but to date, only two of those observations have ever been verified in photographs,” continued Dr. Buckman. “This means that management actions to protect the species and their habitat have not been implemented north of the Turners Falls dam. These initial eDNA results are the first hard evidence supporting these anecdotal observations and are an important step in ensuring that shortnose sturgeon receive the protection they deserve in the more northern reaches of the Connecticut River.”

UMass Amherst PhD Candidate James Garner adds, “Our results demonstrate that there are detectable levels of shortnose sturgeon DNA at multiple locations within the reaches of the Connecticut River upstream of the Turners Falls and Vernon dams. The strength of the hits relative to our positive controls signals to me that these endangered fish are present throughout these upstream reaches, but likely at lower numbers than where they exist farther south. This collaborative project demonstrates the power of a wonderful team and a well-designed use of eDNA techniques for the monitoring and conservation of endangered species.”

Additional testing will be conducted throughout the fall and winter for more robust evidence that these fish are living north of Turners Falls year-round.

Rare fish found in Connecticut River between Massachusetts and Vermont

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