PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • August 27, 2025
Maine prohibits anyone from taking, catching or possessing Atlantic sturgeon in coastal waters. Any sturgeon hooked must be released immediately, alive and uninjured. Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus) are protected because their populations have declined sharply because of overfishing, habitat loss and barriers to migration. Often described as “dinosaur fish,” Atlantic sturgeon are among the oldest living species, dating back more than 120 million years. These prehistoric giants can grow up to 14 feet longand weigh as much as 800 pounds. The ban also applies to the smaller shortnose sturgeon, the only other sturgeon found in Maine. Federally, both species are listed under the Endangered Species Act.