The beluga sturgeon is a gigantic, long-lived fish of the Caspian and Black Sea basins. Overfishing for caviar and dams have brought it close to extinction.
Interesting facts
- Its eggs are sold as beluga caviar, one of the most expensive foods in the world.
- Females may not breed until they are 15–20 years old.
- International trade in wild beluga caviar has been heavily restricted since the mid-2000s.
- Sturgeons are an ancient group of fish that lived alongside the dinosaurs.
- Dams on rivers such as the Volga block access to spawning grounds.
- Individuals over 100 years old have been recorded.
Behaviour
Beluga sturgeon spend most of their lives at sea and migrate up large rivers to spawn. They are top predators, feeding on other fish.
Breeding and young
Females spawn only every few years, releasing hundreds of thousands to millions of eggs on gravel riverbeds.
Threats and conservation
Poaching for caviar and meat, dams blocking migration and pollution.
Where to see it
- Danube Delta, Romania (very rarely seen)
- Sturgeon hatcheries and aquaculture farms in the Caspian and Danube regions
- Public aquariums
- Buy only certified farmed caviar, if at all
Status source: IUCN Red List. Profile last reviewed September 2026.
Danube Delta Birding Guide
