OSP seeks suspects for taking an oversized sturgeon
By Terry Murry on Friday, August 16th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
UMATILLA COUNTY – (News release from OSP) The Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division is asking for the public’s help to identify the person(s) who were present or responsible for the unlawful take of oversized sturgeon within the protected sturgeon breeding sanctuary in Umatilla County.
Oregon State Troopers received a tip that an oversized sturgeon was unlawfully taken during the night on or around May 9, 2024. A video of the event was posted to Snapchat under the username of “rodrigo” with an orange/yellow maple leaf emoji. Video screenshots are attached to help identify the involved subjects.
The incident involves one person holding the fishing rod hooked to the fish while another person enters the water and wrestles the sturgeon to shore. This subject then lifts the sturgeon vertically by shoving his hands through the gills and out the mouth. The injuries to the sturgeon’s gills were almost certainly fatal.
All sturgeon angling is closed within the breeding sanctuary from May 1 to August 31 to protect the breeding stock. According to the 2011 Lower Columbia River and Oregon Coast White Sturgeon Conservation Plan, as well as information collected in a study by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (Samuel Hess from 1980-1983), male sturgeon do not breed until they are approximately 54 inches in length (10-15 years old) and females do not breed until they are approximately 66 inches (15-25 years old). It takes many years for sturgeon to grow to breeding size and the one depicted in the video appears to be over 72 inches.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Oregon State Police Dispatch at 1-800-452-7888, *OSP (*677), or email TIP@osp.oregon.gov. Please reference case number SP24-229621.
Photo composite of stills provided by OSP
