Beluga Sturgeon

The beluga sturgeon is the largest species of freshwater fish. It is found primarily in the Caspian and Black Sea. The sturgeon is slow to reproduce, coming into maturity at about 20 years of age, and spawning once around every 7 years. Due to the high value of its roe for caviar, this mighty prehistoric fish has become a prime target for hunting and poaching. This has inevitably led to a steady decline in the wild population with the beluga sturgeon now classified as critically endangered.