Sturgeon species can live in salt and sea water. Spawning occurs in freshwater rivers or other bodies of water. Fish of the sturgeon family are relatively small in size. Most often they reach a body length ranging from 30 to 100 centimeters with a weight of 500 grams to 5 kilograms. However, there are also quite large representatives. These are very valuable fish with commercial value. Their meat and caviar, which have excellent taste, are in great demand. Due to very massive fishing, which reached extremely large volumes, the number of these fish began to seriously decline. Another reason for the decline in their numbers is predatory fishing and severe pollution of water bodies. Some members of the family are listed in the Red Book, and their fishing is strictly prohibited and controlled.
It is noteworthy that sturgeon are about 75 million years old. They appeared even before bony waterfowl.
Species of fish of the sturgeon family
Kaluga
Kaluga is a rare fish of the sturgeon family, which is in the International Red Book. It is a valuable commercial fish with especially revered caviar. Until some time it was classified as a freshwater species, but recently it became known that it also lives in the northern Sea of Okhotsk.
Beluga
Beluga is considered the largest freshwater fish to inhabit the waters of Russia. It lives in the Black, Azov and Caspian seas. During the spawning period, it swims to the Volga, Dnieper and Danube. It is common for these fish to change their habitat and go deeper. A characteristic feature of the beluga is the absence of a skeleton, which is replaced by a flexible chord.
Thorn
The thorn represents the sturgeon family and has a long fishing history. It inhabits the basins of the Caspian, Black, Aral and Azov seas. The fish can reach a length of about 214 centimeters and weigh up to 30 kilograms. The stocks of this fish are severely undermined due to the uncontrolled use of floating nets and cast seines.
Sterlet
Sterlet is considered one of the most ancient species of fish of the sturgeon family. According to some data, they appeared back in the Silurian period. It is considered a valuable commercial fish, however, due to the severe reduction in their numbers, their fishing in the natural environment is strictly prohibited and is punishable by law. It is found in rivers that flow into the Black, Azov and Caspian seas.
Siberian sturgeon
The Siberian sturgeon was described in 1869. This is a freshwater representative that is endemic to the rivers of Siberia. It lives in lakes and rivers such as the Ob, Kolyma, Baikal and Zaisan. These fish can reach lengths of up to 3 meters and weigh about 100 kilograms. As a rule, the size of the Siberian sturgeon depends on the rivers in which it lives.
Sakhalin sturgeon
The Sakhalin sturgeon is a very rare and little-studied fish that inhabited the territory of the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk, as well as the Tatar Strait. Until some time, Sakhalin sturgeon spawned in the rivers of Khabarovsk, Primorye, China and Sakhalin. Ruthless fishing has brought this species of fish to almost complete destruction.
Russian sturgeon
The Russian sturgeon is a fairly large specimen that can weigh about 25 kilograms. Larger individuals are also found. The habitat of this fish is limited to the basins of the Azov, Black and Caspian seas. Fish prefer a bottom lifestyle because there is a sufficient amount of food there.
Amur sturgeon
The Amur sturgeon, or Shrenka, is a freshwater fish that is a close relative of the Siberian sturgeon. The size of this fish can reach 3 meters with a weight of up to 190 kilograms, but most often individuals weigh no more than 80 kilograms. At the moment, the Amur sturgeon is on the verge of extinction and lives in the Amur River basin.
Atlantic sturgeon
Atlantic sturgeon is an anadromous fish of the sturgeon family. Adults live in shallow coastal waters and eat various benthic invertebrates. At the moment, the Atlantic sturgeon is an almost extinct species, which was widespread on the coast of Europe. Today it is found only in the Black Sea and the Bay of Biscay.
Lake sturgeon
The lake sturgeon is considered a fairly large representative of the genus, which has some similarities with the blunt-nosed sturgeon. The largest fish reached 2.74 meters and weighed 125 kilograms. This representative lives in the Great Lakes system, as well as in the basins of the Mississippi, Saskatchewan and St. Lawrence rivers. At the moment, fish numbers are not causing concern.
Persian sturgeon
The Persian sturgeon is an anadromous fish that is on the verge of extinction. The largest fish weighs 70 kilograms with a body length of up to 2.42 meters. This species is found in the middle and southern regions of the Caspian Sea. The spawning area is located in the rivers Ural, Kura, Volga, Rioni and Inguri. The Persian sturgeon feeds on benthos and small fish.
shovelnose
Shovelnose is a whole genus of ray-finned fish of the sturgeon family, which reaches about 60-90 centimeters in body length with a weight of no more than 4 kilograms. In the United States, this fish has not received commercial value. Its natural habitat is the fresh waters of North America. The name “shovelnose” is associated with the wide and flattened snout of fish of this genus.
Stellate sturgeon
The stellate sturgeon differs from other members of the family in its appearance, which is represented by a very long nose, occupying about 2/3 of the head, and the presence of short antennae. The size of the fish reaches about 7-10 kilograms. At the moment, the habitat of the stellate sturgeon is the western coast of the Caspian Sea.
Bester
Bester fish was the result of crossing beluga and sterlet, which belong to the sturgeon family. This fish can reach a body length of about 2 meters with a weight of no more than 30 kilograms. The bester's appearance is similar to sterlet and beluga at the same time. Currently, bester is actively grown in fish farms.
Habitats and behavior
Sterlet river fish. Hides in deep places almost at the bottom. Does not live in shallow rivers. It can swim into shallow waters only in search of food. For the same purpose, it swims to the surface in the evenings or at night. Known for its "candles" - when it jumps out of the water to catch insects in its mouth. Sterlet is found in swimming pools:
- Volga,
- Yenisei,
- Kama,
- Danube,
- Ural,
- Lake Ladoga,
- Lake Onega.
Attention! The fish lives where there is a sandy bottom and especially loves red river sand.
It is also found in places with a cartilaginous bottom.
The sterlet chooses fast-flowing, cold and clean rivers; it also lives in clean lakes. Avoids slow, silty bodies of water. He likes to “crawl” along the bottom, moving at a short distance from it (10-15 centimeters).
In winter, sterlet lies in the deepest places at 15-20 meters. Large groups of fish hide in bottom holes and remain there almost motionless all winter. The fish chooses such shelters in the lower reaches of rivers; it is almost never found in the upper parts of reservoirs during the cold season.
This species is characterized by a gregarious lifestyle. Schools emerge from hibernation after the river opens up and water remains. The schools are large, the younger the fish, the more numerous the school of fish.
When fishing with nets, they are installed almost along the bottom. The leashes are attached no higher than 30 centimeters from the bottom, sometimes they are lowered directly onto it. In places with fast currents, nets with checkers are used. If the bottom is rocky, then the hooks are raised, otherwise they may be damaged by the stones.
The best time for fishing for sterlet is from late spring to early autumn. Active biting time is night. In rare cases, you can catch it during the day, and even in winter. It is better to go fishing where the bottom is sandy and gristly.
Important! Sterlet fishing during the period after spawning (late May - early June) is the most successful.
At this time, she fattens up and is caught at any time of the day.
Fishing for sterlet at a later time is possible only after dark and before dawn. The fish does not feel pain and does not offer much resistance when hooked. Therefore, you can use a cheap rod and reel. She almost never gets off the hook. The sterlet bites briefly and confidently. She is tenacious and can remain without water for a long time. In autumn, it can lie in the grass from night until morning and not die.
Advice! When removing a fish, it is important to remember its scutes. They hurt easily. Because of them, you should not choose a long and thin leash, as it may get tangled or break on its thorns.
Almost all regions have the same rules, subject to which sterlet fishing is permitted:
- 10 individuals in 2 days according to the license.
- You cannot catch fish weighing less than 250 grams and less than 31 centimeters in length.
- You can use five hooks (5 hooks each).
- It is allowed to catch sterlet with two or one bottom net (up to 25 centimeters).
It is better to think about a license in advance, long before the start of the season, the average period of which is from mid-July to the first half of September.
Structure and skeleton of sturgeon fish
Representatives of the sturgeon family have an elongated body shape, on which there are 5 rows of hard spines formed by bone tissue. Two rows are in the belly area, two more rows are on the side, and the last row is on the back. The spaces between the rows are filled with bone plates that perform a protective function.
Sturgeons are characterized by an elongated and cone-shaped snout, which has the appearance of a shovel. On the lower part of the snout there is a mouth with four whiskers and fleshy lips. The jaw itself has a retractable shape, but there are no teeth on it.
The fin on the chest has the shape of a spike with a thickening, and the fin on the back is shifted closer to the tail. The swim bladder is connected to the esophagus and is located below the spine. The most notable feature of sturgeon is the presence of a cartilaginous and invertebrate notochord instead of a skeleton. In the throat area of the fish there are membranes of 4 gills, as well as 2 accessory gills.
External characteristics
Bester is a hybrid, which in appearance is practically no different from other species of sturgeon, and along its body there are clearly defined rows of bony bugs (5 in total).
A detailed study of the appearance of the hybrid can clearly identify the features of each of the “parents”:
- there are 2 pairs of antennae located under the snout, which is typical for beluga; they may be flattened or slightly wavy with leafy appendages;
- the mouth is presented in the form of an intermediate form, in the beluga it is semilunar, in the sterlet it is transverse;
- color can vary from sterlet to beluga - from light brown to black.
There is a more pronounced contrast between the dark back and light belly than in other sturgeons.
Distribution area
Sturgeons are divided into freshwater, semi-anadromous and anadromous. Migratory fish spend part of their time in the sea and part of their time in rivers. Migration of migratory fish is associated with the spawning period. Semi-anadromous fish live in coastal zones of seas or in sea-lake areas. During the spawning season they migrate to rivers. Most freshwater sturgeon fish are not subject to long migrations, but prefer a sedentary life in rivers and lakes.
The natural habitat of the sturgeon is the northern temperate zone of Europe, as well as the northern habitat of North America and Asia. However, due to evolutionary development, sturgeons began to adapt to living in temperate climate zones. They easily tolerate low temperatures and can go without food for a long time.
Sturgeon breeding
In Russia at the beginning of the 20th century, sturgeon fishing reached unprecedented proportions, when the number of fish caught was greater than in other countries combined. For this reason, despite the high fertility of sturgeon, the number of fish has decreased significantly. Since the beginning of the 21st century, fishing for almost all sturgeon fish in Russia has been strictly prohibited.
However, many farmers and fishing nets have become adept at growing these fish themselves. This can be done in several ways. Let's look at each of them in more detail.
Growing in cages
This method is the most common and profitable. Most fish adapt well to life in special cages where they are fed. Depending on the size of the fish that need to be bred, a special container with mesh cells is selected. Garden lines are installed in reservoirs where fish should live. However, it is important to remember that small cells can become overgrown, so it is necessary to use protective impregnation of the networks. As a cage, use a model with walls made of steel with a cell diameter of at least 10 millimeters.
The main advantage of this method of cultivation is that the food supply is a body of water in which phytoplankton live. Also convenient is that all fish waste products will be washed away naturally.
Breeding in RAS
This method is considered a little more expensive, since you will need to purchase special equipment. RAS stands for closed water supply installation. In addition to the fish breeding pool, you will need to purchase a filtration system and other equipment in the form of automatic feeders. The growth rate of sturgeon depends on proper nutrition. The food should be bottom-dwelling and well-swellable in water. The composition should contain substances such as fats, fiber, phosphorus and lysine.
The easiest way to breed sturgeon is in ponds, since there is all the necessary food supply, as well as oxygen. The only problem will be monitoring the growth and condition of individuals. In general, cage fishing is still the best option.
Bester fish: description, preparation, composition, benefits and harm
Bester is not an independent biological species, but a hybrid of two species obtained by artificial crossing - beluga and sterlet. The name is derived from the first syllables of the names of these fish. Beluga and sterlet are sturgeon fish. This hybrid was obtained in 1952 thanks to the efforts of Soviet ichthyologists Nikolyukin N.I. and Timofeeva N.A. at the Teplovsky fish hatchery in the Saratov region.
Bester immediately showed its high efficiency due to its rapid growth, like that of a beluga, and early maturation, characteristic of sterlet. Currently, it is an object of aquaculture in Russia, Germany, Italy, Poland, USA, China, South Korea, Japan and other countries.
Interesting information
Bester is strictly prohibited from being released into natural reservoirs where sturgeon populations live, as this can lead to genetic contamination of natural species, especially beluga, and will also lead to bester replacing their ecological niche.
Bester Description
Bester can reach 1.8 in length and weigh up to 30 kg. Despite the fact that the bester is a hybrid, it is not only capable of reproduction, but is also very fertile.
There are also two additional main forms of bester: 1) beluga and 2) sterlet, which are very similar in morphological, anatomical and physiological parameters. However, the beluga bester is larger, one specimen reached 63 kg in weight and was 230 cm in length, while the sterlet bester does not grow more than 10 kg in weight and 110 cm in length.
From the beluga, the bester also adopted two pairs of slightly flattened antennae with a slight waviness or notch at the end.
In a particular individual, the body color can be adopted both from one ancestor (beluga) and from another (sterlet), therefore it can be from light gray to almost black, although combined options are possible - brown and gray-brown. Usually the color of the back and belly contrasts (the top is darker than the bottom).
Bester's Lifestyle
Bester feels good in water of varying degrees (from 0 to 18 mg/%). With a sufficient amount of oxygen in the water, it tolerates temperatures up to 34 °C, but the optimal temperature range is 20-25 °C.
It is only bred artificially, when the eggs of one species are fertilized with the milt of another. A female beluga bester can spawn 200-500 thousand eggs per season, a sterlet one - 20-100 thousand, a regular one - 100-300 thousand. Males of the ordinary and sterlet bester reach sexual maturity at the age of 4-5 years, the beluga one - at 8- 9 years, for females of the common and sterlet bester - at 5-9 years, for the beluga - at 9-14 years.
Larvae are fed with zooplankton, small chironomids and artificial food, and adults with compound feed and small fish.
Bester in cooking
Bester is a delicious and expensive fish, which in all respects is in no way inferior to other sturgeon fish. Its caviar is valued no less than that of stellate sturgeon and other sturgeon.
Bestera can be prepared in various ways - boiling, frying, stewing, baking. It is also suitable for making balyk.
Nutritional value of bester (per 100 g)
Calorie content, kcal – 147
Proteins, g - 21
Fats, g - 0.7
Benefits of bester
Bester meat is considered a dietary food product, since its calorie content is very small - only 147 kcal/100 g. The fat content in it is less than 1%.
Fish has the greatest value due to its high taste and the amount of protein it contains (up to 21%). Moreover, these proteins are very easily absorbed by our body and are optimally balanced in amino acid composition. Bester meat contains a large amount of vitamins (especially A and D) and mineral elements (calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and iron).
Bester is a source of polyunsaturated fatty (Omega-3) acids, which are necessary for the human body to normalize metabolism, are strong antioxidants, have an anti-inflammatory effect, and prevent the development of atherosclerosis and other diseases of the cardiovascular system.
Indications for using Bester are:
- obesity, neuropsychic and physical exhaustion;
- gastritis and other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- atherosclerosis;
- osteoporosis, arthritis and arthrosis;
- children and old age;
- vitamin deficiencies.
Bester harm
Bester poses no threat to humans. Individual intolerance to the product and allergic reactions are possible.
Pisces: Belu-V
| Beluga | Eel-pout | White amur |
| Bester | Vobla | Loach |
Sturgeon milk - benefits
Fish milt is the caviar found in males. From a scientific point of view, milk is the male seminal glands. In mature males it is colored white, which is why it is called “milk”. Fish milk contains complete proteins, which are very healthy and nutritious. Their benefits are due to the presence of Omega-3 fatty acids, which, when introduced into the body, have a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system, preventing the development of heart attacks and strokes. The concentration of Omega-3 in sturgeon milk is very high.
Fish milk is also notable for the fact that it secretes the sodium salt of DNA, which is actively used in medicine as an immunomodulator. The main purpose of this substance is to increase human immunity. Also, sodium salt (or derinat) perfectly fights inflammation and stimulates hematopoiesis, promoting rapid healing of wounds and ulcers.
In order for sturgeon milk to be not only healthy, but also tasty, it must be prepared correctly. The fastest dish is breading and frying. However, in addition to this, they can be used to make pancakes, salads, pies and much more.
Sterlet: calorie content
In many sources, the calorie content of sterlet
indicated within
88 kcal per 100 grams
.
Such information is applicable to fish caught in the Volga, but is completely inapplicable to the Yenisei sterlet, which has a fat content of 30 percent or more, which will be more nutritious. If the fish has 15 percent fat, then its calorie content will be from 230 kcal per 100 grams
.
Therefore, if we talk about the calorie content of fish caught in the Yenisei in the fall, it will be from 400 kcal
.
This fish is not only very tasty, but also incredibly healthy for the body. Naturally, you need to eat it correctly and within reasonable limits so that it can benefit the body.
Know the following:
Sterlet and other sturgeon are considered the most delicious and healthy varieties of fish. They belong to the red delicacy varieties, and the fish meat does not necessarily have to be red.
It is also worth noting that a number of religions that prohibit the consumption of meat and milk allow the consumption of fish. Fish is also a dish that can be eaten during fasting.
Diseases of the cardiovascular system are the most common cause of death in people over 50 years of age. They are often a consequence of systemic atherosclerosis, which occurs due to a disorder in cholesterol metabolism.
Sterlet contains polyunsaturated fatty acids
, including
omega-3 and omega-6
.
They not only improve metabolic processes in the body, but also act as protection against cholesterol
.
If you eat polyunsaturated fatty acids along with fish, the formation of atherosclerotic plaques slows down and the level of cholesterol in the blood decreases. It is safe to say that eating sterlet is a good prevention of many cardiovascular diseases.
also increases the level of serotonin in the blood
(natural antidepressant). It is recommended to eat this fish during depression.
Fish meat contains large amounts of iodine
, deficiency of which can cause disruption of the thyroid gland.
Sturgeon spawning
Puberty in sturgeon occurs quite late. Males become sexually mature only between 5 and 18 years of age, while females mature between 8 and 21 years of age. The ripening period may vary depending on the habitat of the fish. As a rule, northern representatives mature much later.
Reproduction in sturgeons does not occur every year. Spawning of females can occur once every 3 or 5 years. Males spawn much more often in their own time. It is also noteworthy that after spawning the males do not die, while this is typical for many fish. The migration period of anadromous and semi-anadromous sturgeon lasts from spring to mid-autumn. The peak occurs in summer. Rivers with a strong current or a rocky bottom at a depth of 4 to 25 meters usually act as spawning grounds. A sharp increase in temperature can negatively affect the development of eggs.
Eggs are thrown onto bottom crevices or onto large rocks. One female is capable of laying several million eggs, which constitute about 25% of her body weight. Pacific sturgeon produces the largest caviar, with a diameter of up to 4.5 millimeters. Sturgeon caviar itself is very sticky and adheres well to the substrate. If the water temperature is at +20 degrees Celsius, then the period of embryonic development lasts on average 2-4 days. Under other conditions, the duration can reach 10 days.
Spawning of sturgeon (sterlet)
Newborn sturgeons have poor eyesight. They also float rather weakly, so they hide in special shelters, which are stones. After two weeks, the sturgeon’s yolk sac dissolves, which serves them as food. During this period, the fry reaches a size of up to 2 centimeters and begins to actively feed. At first, planktonic crustaceans act as the main food, and then mysids, oligochids and gammarids. Having gained a sufficient amount of weight, the juveniles of migratory species swim to the mouths of rivers, where they stay for a short time. The fry of sturgeons such as thorn and Russian sturgeon linger in fresh river water, where they remain for a year. Sea water can be harmful to them, so they move there at a later age.
Sturgeons grow quite slowly. Large species at the age of 2 years reach no more than 35 centimeters in length. At the age of 4 years, their height doubles, and from 8 years they can reach up to one meter in body length.
Varieties of bester
Bester is a fish whose breeding has already reached an industrial scale, but not all fishermen know that there are several varieties of bester. Among the types of bester present today, the following are distinguished:
- Burtsevsky is a hybrid formed by crossing a female beluga and a male sterlet, first bred in 1952. In appearance it looks more like a sterlet. Puberty in males occurs at the age of 4 years, and in females at 8 years. Widely used for making food black caviar.
- Aksai is a hybrid created by crossing a female sterlet and a male beluga, first bred in 1958. Outwardly, it is more similar to a sterlet, but is larger in size and weight. It is distinguished by early puberty, females reach maturity at three years, and males at the age of two years.
- Vnirovsky is a hybrid bred by crossing a male bester and a female beluga; it first appeared in 1958. Outwardly it resembles a beluga, larger in size than the Burtsevsky and Aksai bester. Sexual maturity occurs when males reach the age of 8 years and females at 14 years. It is characterized by several times greater fertility than other bester species.
Sturgeon nutrition
The main diet of most sturgeon fish are bottom organisms and fish. The composition of the diet may vary depending on the age and habitat of the fish. Adult sturgeon feed mainly on protein foods, and during the spawning period they eat almost everything they can find on the bottom. As a rule, these are crustaceans, insect larvae, mollusks, shrimp, mussels and leeches.
Sturgeon fry prefer zooplankton and small worms. Already grown individuals begin to feed on shrimp, snails and insects.
Features of the structure of the head
The shape of the head and nose is the next characteristic feature, by which one can also determine how the sturgeon differs from the sterlet. The photo will help you see the differences clearly. Take a closer look: the sterlet’s nose is long and pointed, its head is narrow and small compared to its body. In addition, this fish has fringed whiskers.
For most sturgeons, everything is different: the nose is shorter, the head is larger and wider. Fishermen also say that the sterlet has a special look, as if surprised or naive. The sturgeon looks differently - as if more confident. Of course, we are not talking about character and not about the fact that you can read a fish’s thoughts by looking at them. This phenomenon is due solely to the structural features of the skull.
Interesting Facts
- Sturgeon are the most ancient and sought-after fish since the life of Alexander the Great. In his army, sturgeon caviar was used as a food option for soldiers.
- The largest sturgeon was caught in the mid-20th century in the Neva. His weight was about 213 kilograms.
- The lifespan of some sturgeon fish reached about 90-100 years.
- Beluga is the largest representative not only of sturgeon, but also of all freshwater fish. The largest belugas reach a body weight of 1.5 tons with a body length of about 4 meters.
- Sturgeons interbreed quite easily with each other, resulting in the birth of hybrid fish. An example of such a fish is Bester.
There are currently about 17 species of sturgeon in the world. Almost all of these fish are endangered.
Beluga
The oldest and largest sturgeon in size is the beluga.
Main characteristics of the beluga:
- It can reach 10 m in length and weigh up to 3000 kg. These sturgeon representatives reach such impressive parameters in approximately 100 years.
- The body has an uneven color - black or dark gray above and white below.
- The genus is sickle-shaped, crowned on both sides of the upper jaw with antennae for searching for food.
- Sexual dimorphism is pronounced, which manifests itself in the fact that females are larger than males.
- Beluga is classified as a predator because it hunts small fish species.
The main habitats of this predatory representative of sturgeon fish are both the sea and rivers. During spawning, it rises from the Caspian Sea to the Volga, Ural, Kura, and Terek. And those individuals that are found in the Black Sea rise along the Dnieper and Danube. The fish that inhabit the Azov Sea basin is migratory for rivers such as the Don and Kuban.
For consumption, beluga meat and caviar are used; fish soup is cooked from the head and cartilaginous structures. In caviar the amount of fat reaches 15%, while in meat this figure is 7%. The vast majority of beluga meat on the market is presented chilled or frozen, and sometimes it is dried.
The cost of a steak, depending on the class, varies around 2,500 rubles. for 1 kg. Caviar for 100 g will cost 8000-9000 rubles.
