Beluga: description, distribution, lifestyle and method of catching

Beluga

(Huso huso) is one of the largest fish of the sturgeon family. From the Caspian, Black and Azov seas, it travels to rivers to spawn. Beluga grows to large sizes, with a maximum weight exceeding 1000 kg; the largest weighed 2072 kg. Anglers and fishermen have caught such large belugas in past decades. Nowadays, catching a fish weighing 200 kg is considered a great success. Beluga expeditions to the mouths of the Urals, Volga or Danube are dreams of the best fishermen who want to fight with fish weighing several hundred kilograms.

Description

Beluga
Beluga is a unique fish that lives for a very long time, and its maximum age can reach hundreds of years. It can spawn more than once in its life, and after spawning it slides into the sea. The fertility of females depends on their size and sometimes reaches about 500,000 eggs.

In nature, beluga is an independent species, however, it can hybridize with sturgeon, sterlet, thorn and stellate sturgeon. Hybrid sturgeon species are best grown in special pond farms.

There are many legends and myths associated with this amazing fish. For example, ancient fishermen said that the beluga stone protects a person very well from storms during a sea voyage and attracts catch. This stone, according to fishermen, can be found in the kidneys of a beluga, and it looks like a chicken egg. In ancient times, its owner could exchange the stone for any expensive product. This legend is still believed, although there is no exact information about the reality of the stone.

Description of beluga

Habitats

No more than 100 years ago, this giant was found in the basins of the Caspian, Black, Azov and Adriatic seas. Nowadays, it can only be found in the Black Sea basin, or rather in the Danube River, as well as in the Caspian Sea basin, exclusively in the Urals. In the Azov Sea basin, or more precisely in the Volga River, one of the subspecies of beluga is found, the number of which is maintained by artificial means.

Since many countries are engaged in artificial fish breeding, the beluga population has not yet decreased in the reservoirs of Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Serbia and Turkey. And this is due to the fact that measures to restore the numbers of this fish occupy a special place in solving such problems. Only at the state level is it possible to solve such complex problems.

Appearance

The appearance of the beluga reminds of its similarity with sturgeon species of fish. Distinctive features include:

Quite a big mouth.
Not a large, blunt nose.
The first spike, located on the back, is small in size.
Between the gills there is a membrane that connects them.

Beluga is distinguished by a wide, heavy, rounded body, which is painted in an ash-gray hue. The belly is off-white in color, with sometimes a yellowish tint. On the massive body there is a large head. The whiskers located at the bottom of the snout resemble leaf-shaped appendages as they are joined together.

Beluga sometimes interbreeds with its relatives, such as sterlet, thorn, and Russian sturgeon. The result is hybrids that have some differences in appearance related to the structure of the body, gills or coloring. Despite this, hybrids are no different in their behavior from their relatives.

World's Largest Fish Caught # Beluga Sturgeon 1490 kg

Behavior

Beluga is a fish that is distinguished by its peculiar behavior among representatives of its species. There are two forms that differ in the period of spawning migrations and the duration of stay in fresh water. At sea, the beluga prefers to lead a solitary lifestyle, and while in the river, it gathers in numerous flocks. This is due to the fact that it comes to rivers to spawn, and in the sea it only feeds and develops.

Diet

Beluga is a predatory fish and it begins to lead this lifestyle quite early. The diet includes fish such as herring, carp, pike perch and gobies. At the same time, the beluga is not averse to swallowing its relative if it is small in size and hesitated somewhere.

In addition to fish, it is capable of swallowing shellfish, waterfowl and even baby seals if it reaches the appropriate size. Experts have come to the conclusion that the migrations of the beluga are associated with the migrations of its food supply.

Spawning

One of the subspecies spawns earlier than the other. Its spawning period coincides with the maximum spring water level in the rivers. At the same time, the water temperature can reach +8-+17 degrees. Another subspecies comes from the seas to spawn around August. After this, individuals overwinter in deep holes and begin to spawn in the spring. Beluga begins to spawn at the age of 15-17 years, after reaching a weight of about 50 kg.

Beluga lays eggs at a depth of at least 10 meters. At the same time, she chooses areas with a hard rocky bottom and a fast current, which provides the spawning site with oxygen.

Fish that live in the seas enter rivers to spawn, and are therefore called migratory. While in fresh water, it continues to actively feed. After spawning, as soon as the eggs hatch into fry, they return to the sea with them. Beluga comes to spawn once every 2-3 years. At the same time, there is a species that lives in rivers permanently and does not migrate over long distances.

Commercial fishing

Until recently, beluga was of industrial interest and was caught at a huge rate. Because of this, this breed of fish was on the verge of extinction.

Since this fish may disappear altogether, its catch is significantly limited in all countries of the world. In some countries it is prohibited to catch it at all. Beluga is listed in the Red Book as a species that is on the verge of extinction. In some countries it is permissible to catch it under a special license and only for the purposes of scientific research. This fish is caught with fixed or floating nets.

Beluga caviar

Black beluga caviar is the most expensive food product these days. Its cost can reach several thousand euros per kilogram. Caviar that is found in markets is either counterfeit or illegally obtained products.

Origin

Sturgeon breeds include: beluga, stellate sturgeon, sturgeon, sterlet. In the fossil state, sturgeon fish have been known only since the Eocene (85.8-70.6 million years ago). From a zoogeographical point of view, very interesting are the representatives of the shovelnose subfamily, which are found on the one hand in Central Asia, on the other in North America, which makes it possible to see in modern species of this genus the remains of a formerly widespread fauna. Sturgeons are one of the most unique and attractive species of ancient fish. They have existed for more than 200 million years, and lived even when dinosaurs inhabited our planet. With their unusual appearance, in their clothing made of bone plates, they remind us of ancient times when special armor or a strong shell was needed in order to survive. They have survived to this day, almost unchanged. Alas, today all existing species of sturgeon are in danger or even threatened with extinction.

View

Beluga is considered the largest of all freshwater fish. The body of an adult reaches a length of 4.2 m, and the weight is about 1.5 tons, with females being slightly larger than males. The beluga's thick, cylindrical body is covered with five rows of bone formations - scutes, and noticeably tapers towards the tail. The bone plates covering the head, sides and belly are poorly developed. More durable shields, 13 in number, are located on the back and perform a protective function.

Like all ray-finned fish, the fins of the beluga are distinguished by the presence of long and sharp, jagged rays: the dorsal contains at least 60 rays, the anal from 20 to 40. The elongated head ends in an upturned, pointed nose, which is slightly translucent as a result of the absence of bony scutes. The beluga's mouth is quite wide, but does not extend beyond the sides of the head; a fleshy upper lip hangs over it. The antennae, located on the sides of the lower jaw, are wider and also longer than those of most sturgeons and perform an olfactory function. The beluga's back is greenish or ash-gray in color, its belly is white or light gray, and its nose is characteristically yellow.

Distinctive features

In addition to its size, this fish can be distinguished from other sturgeon representatives by its thick, cylindrical body and short, pointed nose. It is slightly translucent due to the fact that there are no bone scutes on it. Her mouth occupies the entire width of her head, with a thick lip hanging over it. The antennae on the lower part of the head differ from the similar organ of other fish belonging to the sturgeon group in their width and length: in other fish they are smaller. The bony scutes on the head, sides and peritoneum are underdeveloped. On the back the number of scutes reaches 13, on the sides - 40-45, and on the peritoneum does not exceed 12.

Habitats

Belugas are migratory fish, and spend most of their lives in the waters of the Black, Azov and Caspian Seas, and migrate to rivers only during the breeding season, and after spawning they go back to the sea. By nature, belugas are solitary. Adults and mature individuals live at great depths; juveniles prefer shallow water, not far from the mouth of the river.

In summer, after spawning, the fish rests at medium depths and then fattens before hibernation. Before the onset of cold weather, the body of the beluga is covered with a “fur coat” of a thick layer of mucus, and the fish falls into a state of suspended animation until spring.

Beluga diet

Newly born fry, weighing no more than seven grams, feed on river plankton, as well as larvae of mayflies, caddis flies, eggs and fry of other fish, including related sturgeon species. Grown-up beluga whales eat juvenile stellate sturgeon and sturgeon. Young belugas are generally characterized by cannibalism. As the young beluga grows, its diet also changes.

After the young of the year move from rivers to the sea, they feed on crustaceans, mollusks and small fish such as gobies or sprat, as well as fry of herring and cyprinids until they are two years old. Upon reaching two years of age, beluga whales become predators. Now approximately 98% of their total diet is fish. Beluga's food preferences vary depending on the season and feeding areas. In the sea, this fish feeds all year round, although with the onset of the cold season it eats less. Having remained in the rivers for the winter, it also continues to feed.

Lifestyle

Beluga fish
All sturgeon migrate long distances to spawn and in search of food. Some migrate between salt and fresh water, while others live only in fresh water their entire lives. They breed in fresh waters and have a long life cycle, taking years, sometimes decades, to reach maturity when they are first able to produce offspring. While annual successful spawning is almost unpredictable, depending on available habitat, suitable currents and temperature, specific spawning locations, frequency and migration are predictable. Natural crossing is possible between any species of sturgeon. In addition to entering rivers in the spring for spawning, sturgeon fish sometimes enter rivers in the fall for wintering. These fish stay mainly near the bottom.

According to the method of feeding, the beluga is a predator, feeding mainly on fish, but also on mollusks, worms, and insects. It begins to prey while still a juvenile in the river. In the sea it feeds mainly on fish (herring, sprat, gobies, etc.), but does not neglect shellfish. Even baby seals were found in the stomachs of the Caspian beluga.

Large fish need a lot of food, and the size of individual individuals directly depends on the diet: the better the fish eats, the larger the size it reaches. The main food of the beluga is various types of fish, and the beluga begins to prey at a very young age, as a fry.

Adults successfully hunt both on the seabed and in the water column. The favorite foods of beluga are gobies, herring, sprat, sprat, anchovies, roach, anchovy, as well as representatives of the numerous carp family. A certain part of the diet consists of crustaceans and mollusks, and even small animals, for example, baby Caspian seals or waterfowl.

Nutrition

Omnivorous sea giants most prefer in their diet:

sea gobies;
herring;
anchovy;
all representatives of the carp family;
crucian carp;
rudd;
roach.

Reproduction

Belugas are long-lived animals, some specimens live up to 100 years, so they reach reproductive age late. Males are ready to breed at the age of 13-18 years, females mature at 16-27 years. Spawning occurs at different times of the year and depending on this, beluga of the spring and autumn runs are distinguished.

Spring beluga enters rivers from late January until almost summer. The autumn beluga begins its migration at the end of summer and ends in December, so it is forced to winter at the bottom of the river in deep holes, and begins to reproduce only next spring. Each sexually mature individual does not reproduce every year, but at a certain interval, usually 2-4 years. The spawning grounds of beluga pass along deep rocky ridges, amidst fast currents.

The fertility of a female depends on her size, but in any case, the amount of eggs spawned is 1/5 of her own body. The average amount of caviar is from 500 thousand to a million. Dark gray eggs, 3 mm in diameter, look like peas. Thanks to its increased stickiness, caviar sticks perfectly to cold underwater rocks. At a water temperature of + 12-13 degrees, the incubation period is only 8 days.

Once born, the fry immediately switch to higher nutrition, bypassing the diet consisting of simple organisms. Without stopping, the juveniles go to the seas, where they live until the onset of puberty.

Interaction with a person[edit | edit code]

Valuable commercial fish. Commercial catches of Volga beluga in the early 70s were at the level of 1.2-1.5 thousand tons per year, accounting for 10-11% of the total annual production of sturgeon in the Volga-Caspian basin. In the 90s of the 20th century, there was a constant decrease (t): 1993 - 311, 1995 - 154, 1997 - 127, 1998 - 78, 1999 - 40, 2000 - 44. In 1995-1996, the domestic catch of beluga in the Black and Azov Seas was only 1 ton. Beluga is caught using nets.

They use meat, caviar, entrails, skin, and heads. The fat content in the beluga body is 7%, in the caviar - 15%, in the entrails - 3.9%. Meat comes to the market chilled, frozen and dried. It is used to produce canned food and balyk (teshi, bokovniki), and culinary products (boiled and jellied fish). Beluga caviar is granular and pressed. Viziga is prepared from the chord. Glue for clarifying wines is prepared from dried swim bladders[5].

The number of Azov beluga has sharply decreased due to the complete loss of natural spawning grounds as a result of hydraulic construction, the small size of the spawning population, the low efficiency of artificial reproduction due to a shortage of producers, overfishing both in rivers and in the sea, which was carried out until the mid-80s . In the 70s fertilized Caspian beluga eggs were transported and released into the Sea of Azov. Since 1956, it has been reproduced at sturgeon hatcheries in the Don and Kuban; currently, almost the entire population is of hatchery origin. Since 1986, beluga fishing in Azov has been prohibited; only producers are allowed to be caught for hatchery breeding. It is necessary to cryopreserve genomes, develop methods for identifying individuals of the Azov and Caspian subspecies to prevent reproduction and release of the latter into the Sea of Azov, to improve the biotechnology of artificial breeding with the mandatory rearing of juveniles in ponds and bringing their annual release to 1 million or more [11].

The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assigned the species the conservation status of “Critically Endangered Species”[12].

Artificial breeding and hybridization of beluga[edit | edit code]

In nature, beluga hybridizes with sterlet, stellate sturgeon, sturgeon and sturgeon.

Viable hybrids - beluga x sterlet (Bester) - have been obtained on the Volga and Don using artificial insemination. These hybrids have been introduced into the Sea of Azov and some reservoirs. Sturgeon hybrids are successfully grown in pond (aquaculture) farms.

Beluga caviar[edit | edit code]

Female belugas lay black caviar. Beluga eggs are large, they reach 2.5 millimeters in diameter, the weight of the eggs is 1/5-1/4 of the body weight.[13] Beluga caviar is considered the most valuable among all other sturgeon caviar. It has a dark gray color with a silver tint, a strong odor and a delicate nutty flavor.[14] Before the revolution, the best prepared variety of granular beluga caviar was called “Warsaw redistribution”, since most of its supplies went in the Russian Empire from Astrakhan to Warsaw, and from there abroad.[15] By the end of 2005, 1 kg of beluga caviar cost about €620 on the black market in Russia (with an official ban on the sale of this caviar) and up to €7,000 abroad[16].

Number protection

Due to various reasons, this species of fish has significantly reduced its population and may disappear. Therefore, the beluga is listed in the Red Data Books of all countries in whose water bodies it is still found. The fish is prohibited from catching according to the relevant Fishery Rules. It is in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Beluga fishing is only possible with a license. It indicates the number of fish that can be caught and their size.

Illegal fishing of beluga is punishable by a fine. It is different in different countries. In Russia, for each individual it is 12.5 thousand rubles. In addition, a number of fines are levied; for example, up to 5 thousand rubles. for illegal fishing, etc. In addition, there is criminal liability for illegal beluga fishing. Depending on the damage caused, this may include community service or imprisonment for up to 5 years.

Like other fish, belugas are bred artificially. True, much less common than other sturgeons. This “inattention” to fish is explained by its long-term growth - the first caviar from them can only be obtained after 17...18 years. And although the price of caviar exceeds 10 thousand dollars/kg, few entrepreneurs undertake to grow this fish.

Dilution is carried out in closed water supply devices. They represent several pools of round or rectangular shape. They can be portable (made of lightweight materials), stationary, for example, concrete, tiled. Their usual dimensions are: depth - 1.5 m, diameter - 2.5...3 m.

Population and species status

Photo: What a beluga looks like

Today, the fish population is constantly declining. A rapid decline in numbers occurred at the very beginning of the 21st century. Belugas were given the status of an endangered species, with which they were listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation and the International Red Book. The zoologist notes that due to the constantly declining numbers in natural conditions, predators often interbreed with representatives of other species of marine life.

In 1952, under artificial conditions, scientists managed to breed a hybrid, which was obtained by crossing a hybrid and a sterlet and called bester. This type of fish was bred exclusively for keeping fish in artificial reservoirs. However, the quality of bester caviar is significantly inferior in quality to the caviar of purebred predators.

Beluga whales are on the verge of extinction due to late reaching sexual maturity. In many regions where fish have been accustomed to spawning for centuries, hydroelectric power stations have been built, the waters are polluted with various types of industrial waste, as a result of which spawning has stopped. This type of predator has a peculiarity, which is that after the end of spawning, a large number of females die. This also negatively affects the population size.

Beluga meat

Unlike other fish, beluga meat is quite coarse in structure, but nevertheless has excellent taste, for which it is valued all over the world. Excellent balyk products are made from it. In addition, many cold and hot dishes, as well as a variety of snacks, are made from it. It is from beluga that the best caviar is obtained by catching on an industrial scale individuals whose weight starts from 5 kg, however, since beluga is the largest freshwater fish, its weight in most cases significantly exceeds these figures. Despite the fact that beluga fish is a long-liver, the maximum age of individuals caught on an industrial scale does not exceed 30-40 years.

Natural enemies of the beluga

Photo: Beluga

Due to its size and predatory lifestyle, the beluga has virtually no enemies in its natural habitat. No sea predator ever hunts it. The exception is fry and caviar, which become a source of food for many marine inhabitants. It is noteworthy that the beluga is one of its most important enemies. This is due to the fact that cannibalism is very common among this breed of predators. They eat their own relatives and caviar, and in fairly large quantities.

One of the main enemies and practically the only enemies of the sea predator is man. Previously, in many regions, in particular on the Volga, 1.5-2 thousand tons of this valuable fish were caught during the spawning period. In many regions today it is bred for industrial sale, since caviar is considered a very expensive and elite delicacy. It has excellent taste.

Its calorie content is higher than the calorie content of the fish meat itself. Beluga caviar is very rich in natural protein, which helps maintain youthful skin. However, breeding it is not always successful and in large quantities. In this regard, poaching is very common in many regions, especially during the spawning season, when fish gather in large quantities at river mouths.

Zimovye

Beluga is a red fish that prefers to spend the winter in yatovs (river pits), where it goes out in order to rise and spawn with the onset of spring. Young animals prefer to go to the rivers for the winter or settle at shallow sea depths. Beluga prefers to rest at medium depths, having already spawned eggs and returning to the sea before the first frost. The largest and most mature individuals can only be found at great depths, but due to their physiological characteristics, most of them are no longer capable of reproduction.

Appearance and features

Photo: What a beluga looks like

Fish is one of the particularly large marine inhabitants. Sexual dimorphism in the beluga is practically not observed; male and female individuals do not have significant visual differences between themselves. Its body weight can reach a ton, and its length is about four meters. There are witnesses who claim to have witnessed fish even six to seven meters long being caught. Beluga has a large, massive, stocky body.

The head part of the body actually has some similarities in appearance to a pig. The nose is somewhat blunt, reminiscent of a pig's snout. The sickle-shaped mouth is very wide, framed by massive lips. The beluga has no teeth, except for its fry. As they grow and become adults, they disappear. In the upper lip area there are antennae that hang down, reaching the lower lip. The beluga has small eyes. Vision is poorly developed, so the main reference point is a very acute sense of smell. The body of the fish is covered with dense, hard diamond-shaped scales that do not overlap each other. The body is painted in two shades: the back is gray with a brownish tint, the belly area is lighter, almost white or milky. The back area is covered with small spines. Zoologists say that this type of fish is long-lived. Due to their size, especially large individuals live for about a hundred years.

Beluga fishing

Beluga fishing
The main place where you can catch beluga is in the sea, kilometers away from the coast. It is difficult for a fisherman to find it. You need a guide who knows everything about fish and can help you find a promising place based on some special signs. It is practically impossible to catch a large beluga in rivers. Juveniles can peck on donks and float gear. However, such fishing is pure poaching.

This fish is a real predator and the best bait for it is live bait. Moreover, despite the large size of the beluga, it prefers small fish. Beluga is most interested in anchovy, herring, roach, anchovies, and gobies. The beluga has poor eyesight, so it can be tempted by something shiny. Young individuals, except fry, can peck at the shell.

To attract beluga to the place where your gear is located, use bait. They use pieces of fish, minced fish, and crushed shells. They fish for beluga from a boat. She must have special stability. The presence of a hook and landing net is required. Beluga is caught more from the bottom, so you need to give preference to bottom gear. The line should be thick. The hooks are reliable and of considerable size. Of the reels, the multiplier is more suitable. The rod must be durable, with high-quality guides, a reel seat, and not be afraid of sea water.

If possible, it is better to use asp and roach for bait. The beluga pecks carefully and lazily. You can hook the fish after a powerful pull occurs. The beluga, pulled to the side, is picked up by a hook and dragged into the boat. Immediately turns her belly up. The latter is necessary so that the fish stops beating its tail.

Where does the beluga live?

Photo: Beluga in Russia

Beluga fish lives exclusively in fresh water bodies.

Beluga habitats in natural conditions:

Black Sea;
Caspian Sea;
Sea of Azov;
Adriatic Sea.

During the spawning season, fish gather at river mouths. The most numerous populations during this period gather in the Volga, Danube, Don, Dnieper, Dniester, Ural, Kura, Terek. Most of these representatives of marine flora and fauna live in the Caspian Sea. During the spawning period, the largest number of fish gather on the Volga River. Fish can be found on any river near the Caspian Sea. Previously, it was common for fish to climb thousands of kilometers up large rivers. Today, the habitat of these predators is limited due to the construction of numerous hydroelectric power stations.

Previously, beluga populations were widespread off the coast of Azerbaijan, Iran, Serbia, Romania, and other countries. A fish lift was even built for it on the territory of the Volgograd hydroelectric complex. However, due to poor quality work, it was no longer used, and fish were no longer found in the Volga River in such large quantities as before. A predator of such a large size can provide itself with food only in the vast seas. The regions in which it lives are considered environmentally friendly, since the beluga is found exclusively in such places.

Interesting fact: If for some reason the region where the fish lives is polluted, the female fish refuses to spawn, and the eggs formed in her body simply dissolve.

It is unusual for belugas to lead a sedentary, passive lifestyle. Despite its impressive dimensions, it constantly changes its habitat and likes to descend to impressive depths in places with strong currents. It is in such places that she finds a sufficient amount of food. For rest, it selects depressions at the bottom. With the onset of spring, when the upper layers of water have warmed up sufficiently, beluga can be seen in such waters, or at shallow depths.

Now you know where the beluga lives. Let's see what this fish eats?

Interesting Facts

This is one of the longest living fish. Life expectancy can reach more than 100 years.
Parents do not care about their offspring in any way. On the contrary, after some time they can eat the slowest offspring.
During the course, fishermen often watch these sturgeons jump high out of the water. It's an impressive sight considering its size. There is still no clear explanation for this phenomenon.
These fish, like sharks, anatomically have no bones. Its skeleton consists exclusively of cartilage, only which becomes tough and hard over time.
Females can contain a very large amount of eggs. The capture of an individual weighing 1200 kg, from which almost 150 kg of caviar was extracted, is documented.
In the Far East, in the Amur River basin, a closely related species lives - kaluga, which also reaches enormous sizes - up to 5 meters in length and 1000 kg. weight. Attempts by scientists to cross species ended in failure.

The largest beluga

The largest beluga caught in Russia in 1922 still holds the title. She weighed 1224 kg and was caught in the Caspian Sea. The giant fish was filled with caviar. The Tsar Fish is comparable in size to ocean monsters: sharks, killer whales, narwhals.

Several other cases of giant-sized beluga sturgeons have been caught. In Kazan there is even a stuffed giant fish, which weighed a ton during its life. The 4.17 m long carcass was donated to the city by Nicholas II himself, and today a stuffed animal made from it is exhibited in the museum. Anyone can admire the huge fish.

Another curious specimen during life had a length of almost 6 meters and a weight of up to a ton. His story is amazing. This beluga was caught by poachers, the most valuable caviar was gutted, and the carcass was thrown away.