Sturgeon
What to check for
Location
North East Atlantic: All areas
Technical location
27 - Atlantic, Northeast, All areas
Caught by
Hook & line (pole & line), Net (gill or fixed)
Rating summary
All wild caught sturgeon are Fish To Avoid. All species found in UK waters or on the UK market are assessed as Critically Endangered by IUCN. Because of this, they are automatically a red-rated species. The value of wild sturgeon caviar is so high that there is a substantial illegal fishery that is completely unregulated.
How we worked out this Rating
References
CITES, 2021. CITES publishes quotas for wild caviar from the Caspian Sea. Available at: https://cites.org/eng/news/pr/2008/080303_caviar.shtml [[Accessed on 16.10.2025]
C&RT, 2020. Canal and River Trust, Common/European Sturgeon. Available at: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/fishing/caring-for-our-fish/freshwater-fish-species/rare-and-protected-fish/common-european-sturgeon [Accessed on 16.10.2025].
MMO, 2017. Protection of common sturgeon: advice for fishermen. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/protection-of-common-sturgeon-advice-for-fishermen#:~:text=What%20to%20do%20if%20you,do%20so%20from%20the%20MMO.&text=It%20is%20important%20that%20any,of%20each%20fish%20is%20essential [Accessed on 16.10.2025].
IUCN, 2025. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-2. < Search including: Acipenser sturio – European sturgeon, A. gueldenstaedtii - Russian sturgeon, A. baerii - Siberian, Huso huso – Beluga. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org/ [Accessed on 16.10.2025].
WWF, 2021. Poaching and illegal trade in sturgeon pose major threat to critically endangered species in Europe. Available at: https://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?2014941/Poaching-and-illegal-trade-in-sturgeon-pose-major-threat-to-critically-endangered-species-in-Europe [Accessed on 16.10.2025].
