Population changes and statusBelugaHistorically, beluga were harvested more intensive-
ly than were Russian and stellate sturgeons (Koro-
bochkina 1964). For the last 35 years, the number of
spawning adult beluga has decreased. In the early
1970s, about 25 000 individuals with a total weight
2600 metric tons migrated into the Volga River. In
recent years, the number of spawning fish harvested
did not exceed 11 700 individuals weighing a total
750 metric tons. Commercial catch of beluga de-
creased from 2000 metric tons in the early 1970s to
less than 500 metric tons at present. In the early
1970s, 21% of spawning beluga sturgeon migrating
into the Volga River reached the spawning grounds.
In 1976, 36–40% of spawning beluga reached the
spawning grounds, but the number of fish reaching
the grounds remained at 4000–6000 individuals.
Declines in the number of belugas occurred after
construction of a series of hydroelectric dams on the
Volga River in the late 1950s (Frantsuzov 1960). Be-
luga no longer can reach their historic spawning
grounds because their movements are blocked by
the Volgograd Dam (Figure 1). Beluga now spawn
downriver from the city of Volgograd, in reaches in
which they did not spawn previously. In the past, the
migration distance for juveniles was much longer
(originating from spawning grounds far above Vol-
gograd), and juveniles grew to a larger size in theFigure2.Sturgeon catch in the northern part of the Caspian Sea
in thousands of metric tons. Catches for stellate sturgeon (Aci-
penser stellatus) and Russian sturgeon (A. gueldenstaedtii)
peaked in the 1970s. when catches of beluga (Huso huso) were
already in decline.
beluga and stellate sturgeons, whereas in the early
1960s, this was only one and one half times. Harvest
figures (in thousands of metric tons) are shown for
selected years for each of the three species (Figure
2).Figure 3. Releases of sturgeon juveniles produced by hatcheries located in the northern part of the Caspian Sea.