How do sturgeons reproduce after migrating upstream?

Sturgeons reproduce by migrating from the sea into rivers or toward the shores of freshwater lakes during the spring or summer to deposit their spawn. Once they reach these habitual spawning grounds, they release large numbers of small, sticky eggs.12

As members of the subclass Chondrostei, sturgeons are bony fishes that typically utilize external fertilization. During the breeding process, the fish migrate in large shoals. While the specific behavioral mechanics of their spawning can vary, the general process involves the deposition of eggs into the environment where they are fertilized externally. Following this, the young fish experience rapid growth. It is important to note that many sturgeon species are currently critically endangered, with their reproductive success often threatened by water pollution and dam construction that blocks access to their traditional spawning environments.231