Most expensive fish in world, it weighs like a rhinoceros

The beluga sturgeon (Huso huso) is a truly remarkable creature. This colossal fish, the largest freshwater species in the world, can weigh over 2,000 kilograms - equivalent to a rhinoceros - and reach lengths of nearly 8 meters, comparable to an orca. Despite its size and longevity of up to 150 years, this European native is sadly on the brink of extinction.

Beluga sturgeons are anadromous, meaning they inhabit marine waters but migrate to rivers during spring or autumn for spawning in shallow areas. Their primary habitats are the Caspian Sea, the Black Sea, and the Mediterranean, with the Danube River and the Black Sea being their preferred environments. They were also found in the Ebro River in the past.

A female beluga sturgeon can lay an astonishing 300,000 to 7,500,000 eggs, which stick to stones on the seabed. After hatching, the young sturgeons journey downstream back to the sea. Interestingly, females do not reach sexual maturity until they are 15-18 years old and reproduce every 2-4 years.

The creature boasts an elongated, flattened physique, with a snout that subtly slopes above its mouth. It is adorned with five rows of bony plates, known as scutes, that run along its body - one on the back, one on each side, and two on the underside. Its body is primarily cloaked in shades of dark gray or green, while its belly often presents a contrasting white hue.

In front of its mouth, the creature features fleshy barbels that are feathered at the ends. These barbels serve as a navigation tool, aiding in the detection of prey along the seabed and river beds. The diet varies with age; young ones primarily feast on small invertebrates, while adults exhibit a broader palate, favoring a variety of fish such as anchovies, gobies, and herring.

Prehistoric survivor

The beluga sturgeon is a living testament to prehistory, maintaining an appearance nearly identical to its ancestors who swam the seas and rivers during the era of the dinosaurs.

The decline of this species can be attributed to several factors. Human encroachment on its habitat, the construction of reservoirs and dams that hinder river ascension, pollution, and the capture of juvenile specimens all contribute to its dwindling numbers. Additionally, the pursuit of its unfertilized eggs, which are served as caviar in high-end restaurants, poses a significant threat.

The eggs of the beluga sturgeon are used to produce what is known as ‘true caviar’ or ‘beluga caviar’. This delicacy is highly sought after in gastronomic circles and can fetch up to $20,000 per kilogram. This has led to the beluga sturgeon being recognized in the ‘Guinness Book of Records’ as the most expensive fish in the world.

The beluga sturgeon has been held in high esteem by various ancient civilizations. Evidence indicates that the Phoenicians, for instance, consumed it in the Bay of Cádiz around 3,000 years ago, and it was also favored by the Romans.

In the Middle Ages, it earned the moniker ‘the King’s Fish’ in France, celebrated for its boneless meat and particularly its eggs. However, its meat is not as valued in today’s culinary world.

Beluga sturgeons are primarily bottom-dwellers, spending the majority of their time near the substrate at the base of water columns. This makes tracking them and studying their behaviors quite challenging.

Caesarean sections to remove eggs

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies the beluga sturgeon as an endangered species. The 'Convention relating to the Conservation of Wildlife and the Natural Environment of Europe' lists it as a protected species and also prohibits anyone from intentionally killing these fish in the Mediterranean Sea.

Currently, hatcheries are artificially supporting most beluga sturgeon populations. The traditional way of obtaining caviar involved killing the fish, but in recent years, fish farms have practiced cesarean births: they extract the eggs and keep the fish alive so they can produce more in the following years.

The 2012 Austrian documentary 'Billion Dollar Fish' reveals the seriousness of the situation that this species is experiencing.

The United States also protects this species, with the Fish and Wildlife Service already banning the import of beluga caviar from the Caspian Sea and any other product derived from this fish in 2005. Seven years earlier, the organization had issued a statement highlighting that it classified more than 50% of the world trade in caviar as illegal.

The beluga sturgeon surpasses in length the Mekong catfish ( Pangasianodon gigas ), which reaches 3 meters, and the Amazonian pirarucú ( Arapaima gigas ), which can exceed 3 meters. It is also heavier than the sunfish ( Mola mola ), weighing an average of one ton, which lives in tropical and temperate waters around the world.

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