Sturgeon Conservation and Sustainability Act

This bill exempts farmed sturgeon and their offspring held in U.S. captivity or controlled environments from certain provisions of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), specifically sections 9(b)(1) and 7(a)(2). It directly affects sturgeon aquaculture businesses and farms operating under existing U.S. regulations. The key provision requires owners to maintain documentation proving their sturgeon qualify for the exemption and to provide requested records to the Secretary of the Interior, without duplicating existing ESA requirements. The exemption remains in effect until the sturgeon or its progeny is intentionally released back into the wild. This change streamlines regulatory compliance for the sturgeon farming industry while maintaining ESA protections for wild populations.