The sturgeon is the largest freshwater fish in the world. There are 24 species of sturgeon worldwide, the most famous of which is the beluga sturgeon of the Caspian Sea, prized for its caviar.

From 2005 to 2023, the Caspian Sea's water level dropped by 185 centimeters, resulting in a loss of 31,000 square kilometers of water area.

The species subject to capture include the Caspian seal ... The water level of the Caspian Sea continues to drop, leading to a steady decrease in fish stocks. Once the world's fourth-largest ...

is the largest city by the Caspian Sea, with others also including Astara in Iran, Atyrau in Kazakhstan and Derbent in Russia. About 850 animal and more than 500 plant species live in the Caspian ...

This caused the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ban the import of beluga sturgeon and beluga caviar in 2005. Although that ban is still in effect, the species is now recognized by the IUCN as ...