Huso huso
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
The Beluga sturgeon faces catastrophic population decline primarily due to overfishing for its highly valuable caviar, which has driven intensive commercial exploitation for over a century. Dam construction across the Caspian Sea basin has blocked critical spawning migrations and fragmented remaining populations. Illegal fishing and poaching continue despite protective measures, while pollution from industrial activities and agricultural runoff degrades water quality in both marine and freshwater habitats.
Habitat
Beluga sturgeon inhabit the Caspian, Black, and Azov seas, spending most of their lives in brackish and marine waters. They migrate into large river systems including the Volga, Danube, and Ural rivers for spawning, requiring access to deep freshwater pools and gravel beds for reproduction.
