Top Sturgeons Not Elsewhere Included Fishing Countries

Sturgeons, ancient fish known for their bony scutes and prized roe (caviar), are harvested both for their meat and their eggs, making them economically significant in global fisheries. The term "Sturgeons Not Elsewhere Included" generally refers to sturgeon species other than the well-known beluga, sevruga, and sterlet, and includes several species across the Acipenseridae family. Major fishing countries for these sturgeons have historically included Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, and China, primarily in the Caspian Sea and adjacent river systems. These nations have long traditions of sturgeon fishing, though overfishing and habitat loss have led to strict regulations and a shift toward aquaculture, particularly in China and Russia. In recent decades, countries in Eastern Europe and North America (notably the United States and Canada) have also developed sturgeon aquaculture industries, focusing on both meat and sustainable caviar production. Conservation concerns have led to international agreements such as CITES to regulate and monitor sturgeon harvests, but these fish remain a valuable, if increasingly protected, resource in global fisheries.

Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.