CR

Persian Sturgeon

Acipenser persicus

DecliningCREUCREU

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Persian sturgeon faces catastrophic population collapse primarily due to overfishing for its highly valuable caviar, with illegal fishing continuing despite protective measures. Dam construction along the Volga River system has severely disrupted spawning migrations, blocking access to traditional breeding grounds. Water pollution from agricultural runoff and industrial discharge has degraded remaining spawning habitats, while climate change is altering water temperatures and flow patterns critical for reproduction.

Threat summary

Habitat

Persian sturgeons inhabit the brackish and marine waters of the Caspian Sea, migrating into freshwater rivers including the Volga, Ural, and Kura systems for spawning. They prefer deep waters with muddy or sandy bottoms and require specific temperature and flow conditions in riverine spawning habitats.

Marine coastal/supratidal· majorWetlands (inland)· majorMarine neritic· major

Conservation measures underway

Habitat & natural process restorationSpecies managementAwareness & communicationsLinked enterprises & livelihood alternatives

Other threatened species in ACIPENSERIDAE

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Small Amu-Darya Shovelnose SturgeonCR

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Threatened in Iran

VU

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Persian Sturgeon classified as Critically Endangered?
Persian Sturgeon is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Persian sturgeon faces catastrophic population collapse primarily due to overfishing for its highly valuable caviar, with illegal fishing continuing despite protective measures. Dam construction along the Volga River system has severely disrupted spawning migrations, blocking access to traditional breeding grounds. Water pollution from agricultural runoff and industrial discharge has degraded remaining spawning habitats, while climate change is altering water temperatures and flow patterns critical for reproduction.
Where does Persian Sturgeon live?
Persian Sturgeon occurs in Iran, Kazakhstan, Romania, and Russia. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Persian Sturgeon?
The main threats to Persian Sturgeon are 2.1, 5.1, 5.4, and 7.2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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