Knowra Sturgeon Sturgeon Sturgeons are large, long-lived fishes in the family Acipenseridae, with rows of bony scutes and a cartilaginous skeleton. Several species produce roe processed as caviar.
Acipenseridae : The fish family comprising sturgeons and paddlefishes, characterized by cartilaginous skeletons and distinctive snouts. Sturgeons belong to this family, whose members share their unusual skeletal and feeding traits.
Caviar : Salt-cured fish roe, especially roe from sturgeons, prepared as a food. Sturgeon roe is the traditional source of caviar and drives much commercial demand.
Overfishing : The removal of fish from a population faster than it can replace them through reproduction. High-value roe and slow population recovery have made many sturgeon fisheries unsustainable.
Beluga sturgeon : A large anadromous sturgeon native to the Caspian and Black Sea basins, whose roe is used for beluga caviar. Its prized roe made this species central to the caviar trade and overfishing concerns.
Scute : A hard external plate or scale that protects the body of certain animals. Rows of bony scutes form the conspicuous armor along a sturgeon's body.
Sturgeon aquaculture : The farming of sturgeons for meat, roe, conservation, or restocking. Farming can supply caviar while reducing pressure on wild sturgeon populations.
Habitat fragmentation : The division of continuous habitat into separated areas, often by human-made barriers or land use. Dams can isolate sturgeon spawning grounds from feeding and nursery habitats.
White sturgeon : A large sturgeon native to rivers and coastal waters of western North America. This species illustrates the varied freshwater and marine habitats sturgeons can occupy.
Cartilaginous skeleton : A skeleton made largely of cartilage rather than bone. Sturgeons retain a largely cartilaginous skeleton beneath their bony scutes.
Sturgeon fishing : The capture of sturgeons for food, roe, or recreation. Fishing has supported livelihoods but contributed to severe declines in many species.
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