Why Was the Beluga Sturgeon Banned in the U.S.?

The beluga sturgeon is a large and long-lived species of freshwater fish native to the temperate waters of the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea. Although the beluga sturgeon shares its name with the more famous beluga whale, the two species are unrelated. “Beluga” comes from the Russian word “belaya,” which means white. So, what would cause a country to ban a fish? Keep reading to find out why the beluga sturgeon was banned in the U.S.

A Record-Breaking Catch

The beluga sturgeon is the largest species of freshwater fish in the world. The record for the largest beluga sturgeon ever caught is 23.6 feet long and 3,463 pounds. This is larger than some whales — the beluga whale included.

However, that record was set in 1827. Today, it is rare to find such large individuals. The current record for all-tackle rod and reel was set in 1993 with a beluga sturgeon that was only 224 pounds 13 ounces. So, what is going on?

A Culinary Delicacy

Beluga sturgeons can live to be over 100 years old. However, they are slow to mature. Some females may not reach sexual maturity until they are in their twenties. They only reproduce once every 4-8 years, but they can produce up to 12 percent of their body weight in eggs or roe. These eggs are used to make caviar, which is considered a culinary delicacy.

Beluga sturgeon caviar is highly sought after. However, their meat is not particularly in demand. These freshwater giants are killed primarily due to global demand for their eggs. The exploitation of the beluga sturgeon for caviar has led to a decline of more than 90% in its population since the mid-1980s. The removal of mature sturgeons is also why the remaining fish in the sturgeon population have become progressively smaller.

The Beluga Sturgeon Ban

In the late 90s, the beluga sturgeon was classified as an endangered species. Unfortunately, consumers in the United States were guilty of consuming 60% of the world’s beluga caviar exports. 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 Critically Endangered.

Overfishing, poaching, habitat loss, pollution, loss of access to spawning grounds, and depressed reproduction rates are just some of the threats the beluga sturgeon faces. Although international law protects the species across its entire range, illegal fishing persists. The IUCN believes only controlled reproduction and subsequent releases can prevent the beluga sturgeon from complete extinction.