Sturgeon can live for up to 300 years. Scientists discovered that we have underestimated their age

Many American anglers are in for quite a surprise: the latest research shows that the oldest lake sturgeon living in the Great Lakes, on the border between Canada and the United States, date back to the time of the Civil War! Anglers can therefore catch a piece of history on their hooks. How do we know this, and why is this discovery important?

How long do fish live?

Atlantic salmon live for an average of 8 years, while the oldest individuals manage to reach their 15th birthday. Cod are more long-lived, reaching up to 25 years, carp up to 40–60 years, and catfish up to 80 years. The latter owe their impressive size precisely to their long lives, as they are one of the few species whose representatives never stop growing.

The longest-lived fish, however, are those inhabiting cold waters. It is precisely the low temperature that slows metabolism and extends all stages of life. This group includes the whale shark, which can live for up to 150 years, and the undisputed record holder, the Greenland shark, which typically lives for around 200–300 years, while the oldest individuals may reportedly reach as much as 500 years.

How do we know this? The advanced age of the Greenland shark was determined using radiocarbon dating of eye-lens proteins. However, this is not the only method used to study fish longevity.

Sturgeon with a new age record

Lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), which inhabit the Mississippi River basin and the North American Great Lakes, were previously thought to live for a maximum of 150 years (males around 55 years). Their age was estimated using the popular method of counting growth rings in fin rays.

However, a team of scientists from Michigan analyzed the largest databases on lake sturgeon and concluded that previous estimates had been unfairly low, and that counting rings in older individuals is not a reliable method. Taking into account observations of growth in tagged individuals and using models applied to estimate the age of Greenland sharks, the researchers found that the oldest sturgeon in the Great Lakes may be more than 200 years old, with some approaching their 300th birthday.

It is worth adding that the sturgeon’s lifestyle is largely consistent with assumptions about longevity and slow metabolism. These ancient fish usually live close to the bottom and slowly consume small prey such as snails, mussels, and the eggs of other fish.

Why is the age of fish in populations important?

What difference does it make whether a sturgeon is 150 or 300 years old? From an angler’s perspective, none, but for a biologist it is highly significant. Average lifespan is an essential parameter for assessing the status of a population, its chances of survival, and the measures needed for its recovery.

Lake sturgeon, meanwhile, are an endangered species. Their populations were decimated by intensive fishing. In the second half of the 19th century, more than 2.2 million kg of fish were harvested annually from Lake Erie alone, prized for their tasty meat and roe. It is therefore no surprise that by the beginning of the 20th century, most fisheries were on the verge of complete collapse.

Since 2001, intensive efforts have been underway to restore Great Lakes populations. Eggs and sperm are collected from adult fish caught for this purpose and, after artificial fertilization, transferred to hatcheries. Success, however, takes a very long time: male sturgeon reach sexual maturity at around 10 years of age, females only at 24–26 years, and the fish spawn only once every few years.

Long-lived sturgeon have no reason to hurry. The challenge is to ensure that humans do not interfere with their long and peaceful lives.

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main photo: Egor Kamelev/Pexels

Source:

Baker, E. A., Colborne, S. F., Auer, N. A., Scribner, K. T., Larson, D. L., Briggs, A. S., Bruch, R. M., Stadig, M. H., & Donofrio, M. C. (2026). Lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) growth and longevity estimated from adult capture–mark–recapture data. Journal of Fish Biology, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.70478