Russian sturgeon - Acipenser gueldenstaedtii

Russian sturgeon reaches 2-4 m of length and 70-600 kg of weight. Body is spindle-shaped and proportional wide. Dorsal scutes range from 8-18, lateral scutes 24-50 and ventral scutes 6-13. It differs from other species in genera Acipenser by short snout with rounded tip, as well as lower lip, which is interrupted at its center. Barbells are not fringed, they are short, curved and situated near top of snout. The branchiostegal membrane is attached to the isthmus.

Russian sturgeon is widely distributed through Black, Azov and Caspian Sea basins. During migrations in the Danube River it used to reach Bratislava and sometimes it was registered in Sava River and Tisa River as well. During the period in which Russian sturgeon inhabits sea water, it occupies shallow water near the shore, dwelling mostly in brackish waters, above sandy bottom, while in the night it goes up and to the surface levels of water. During migration period in river, Russian sturgeon dwells on 2-30 m of depth.

Maximal recorded age was 46 years. Males become sexually mature at the age of 11-13 years and females at 12-16 years. Spawning intervals for females are every 5-6 year. Spawning run is in area with fast flow, mainly on bottom in the middle of river flow, on depth not less than 6 m and with temperature of water 12-16°C. They do not choose only gravelly bottoms, but they can also spawn in flood areas along river bank and sandy area at river mouth. Small number of individuals in Danube River is spawning not far from river mouth, while most of the individuals are migrating upstream before spawning, to far locations. In the Danube River , migration reaches maximum during summer period, but they do not spawn during that year, instead they stay over the winter in different parts of river and spawn in the spring of next year.

(www.fishbase.org)

Russian sturgeon is benthic feeder, and it feeds mainly on snails, shells, crabs, insect larva, and also small specimens of fish (mainly family Gobiidae, and also genera Engraulis and Sprattus).

Fall of Russian sturgeon catch

Temporary ban on Russian sturgeon catch, is determine for period from 1 st of March, until 30 th of September, while minimal length for catch is 150 cm (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia“, No 50/93) , while the Decree on Natural Rarities ("Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia", no. 50/93) defines I level of protection for Russian sturgeon, which contains permanent catch ban, except in special circumstances.

Russian sturgeon range (www.cites.org.yu)

Taken from: Lenhardt, M., Hegediš, A. and Jaric, I. (2005). Action plan for sturgeon species management in fishery waters of Republic Serbia. Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stankovic”, p. 21. Developed for Ministry of Science and Environmental Protection of Republic Serbia.

Internet presentation was funded by Minstry of Environmental Protection of Republic Serbia. Webdesign & maintenance: Ivan Jarić ijaric@ibiss.bg.ac.yu