Caviar Sturgeon Species
The more important species include the Common sturgeon, also called the European or Baltic sturgeon.
It’s found an all coasts of Europe except in the Black Sea. It is also found in Great Britain. There are a few found on the coasts of North America and have 11-13 bony shields along the back and 29-31 shields along the outside of the body.
The Russian sturgeon or caviar is one of the most valuable species along the rivers of Russia where it is said to inhabit the Siberian species as well. It was once so abundant in the rivers of the Black and Caspian seas that more than a quarter of the caviar and isinglass made in Iran and Russia came from this species. It’s been overfished and is now threatened, however.
The Starry Sturgeon is also found in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. It has a long pointed snout but has simple barbells without fringes. Its flesh is more valuable as is its caviar and isinglass. It has also been overfished somewhat.
The lake sturgeon has been the object of a profitable business in and around Lake Michigan and Lake Erie. The flesh of the fish is smoked after being cut into strips and after being slightly pickled in brine. Nearly all of the fish’s caviar is shipped to Europe.
The Beluga sturgeon is found primarily in Germany, the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea. It is one of the largest species and has no osseous scutes on its snout; it has flattened tape-like barbells. Its flesh, caviar and air bladder are of great value.
The starlet is another species of sturgeon that also inhabits the Black and Caspian Seas and ascends into rivers for a great distance-as far as the Danube at Vienna and near Ulm. It is held in high esteem and makes excellent caviar and isinglass.