Norwegian fisherman lands critically endangered sturgeon near Kragerø

A fisherman in southern Norway has caught a critically endangered Atlantic sturgeon off the coast of Kragerø, a rare find in Norwegian waters, Dagbladet reports.

Stian Kristensen, a local fisherman, discovered the 3.5-kilogram fish tangled in his net on Monday. “It was pure luck,” he said. “The sturgeon was still alive, so I transferred it to a holding tank on my boat before moving it to a larger pen at Kragerø Sjømat.”

Kristensen, who last caught a sturgeon in 2008—a 18-kilogram specimen also near Kragerø—said he plans to donate this one to Norway’s Institute of Marine Research. “I thought they might be interested,” he told Dagbladet. His previous catch was later traced to a conservation project in France.

Atlantic sturgeon, which can grow up to five meters long and live for a century, are classified as critically endangered due to declining populations. Kristensen noted unusual shifts in local fish species, attributing changes to climate effects after 25 years in the trade.

The fisherman, currently targeting flounder and spiny dogfish, has also been affected by new Oslofjord fishing restrictions. “I’ve lost access to my usual flounder grounds,” he said. “I’m waiting for the fisheries minister to respond on possible measures.”