YANKTON, S.D. (AP) An effort at a Yankton, South Dakota fish hatchery to preserve the endangered pallid sturgeon has reached a new milestone.

For the first time, two female sturgeon held in captivity their entire lives have spawned.

Their offspring are expected to begin hatching tomorrow.

While other hatcheries capture pallid sturgeon from the wild and use an artificial spawning process, the Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery is the only one in the world that raises the fish from birth to adulthood and then helps them spawn.

Hatchery Manager Keith McGilvray says the spawning success answers a lot of questions about captive pallid sturgeon reproduction.

Information from: Yankton Press and Dakotan, http://www.yankton.net/ (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 07-01-08 1043CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list