LONGMEADOW - Massachusetts Environmental Police on Sunday executed a search warrant on a Longmeadow residence and recovered a shortnose sturgeon, a federally protected endangered species, that was apparently being kept in a tub, according to police.

The fish was found to be alive and in good health. Environmental police later released it back into the wild, police said.

The name of the person holding the fish was not disclosed to the press. Police said the person was issued a summons to appear in court on a charge of possession of an endangered species.

Katie Gronendyke, spokeswoman for the Environmental Police, said police obtained a search warrant for the residence after receiving a tip that the fish was being kept there.

The shortnose sturgeon is the smallest of the three sturgeon species that occur in eastern North America. They can grow to more than 4 feet and 50 pounds. They spawn in coastal rivers on the East Coast including the Connecticut River.