Atlantic sturgeon are functionally extinct in most of their European range, surviving only in the Gironde-Dordogne river system in France. Bycatch, habitat loss, and poaching remain critical threats to the remaining population.
Bycatch in gill nets and trawls causes injury and drowning. Sturgeon caught accidentally are often discarded, but may be fatally injured before return. The species extreme rarity means that each individual death has disproportionate conservation and welfare significance. Illegal poaching for caviar directly targets gravid females, removing individuals critical to reproduction.