The necessity for a national consent on the conservation of sturgeon in the Caspian Sea

In the present study, the fishing status and production of caviar from wild sturgeon as well as the stocks rehabilitation of these species in the Caspian Sea have been analyzed over the past few years. Unfortunately, due to certain reasons such as overfishing and poaching, destruction of spawning areas and natural habitats, environmental pollution and reduced the number of released juveniles sturgeon, the generation of these valuable species has sharply declined and the catching amount reached only to 13 tons in south parts of the Caspian Sea in 2019. With this situation, it seems that through the upcoming years, the generation of some fishes from the Caspian Sea will become rare and extinct. Meanwhile, attention to aquaculture of these fish, especially beluga and Siberian sturgeon has increased in Iran, so that the amount of meat and caviar production in 2019 was 2830 and 10. 6 tons, respectively. Given the severe decline in the sturgeon stocks, the necessity of rehabilitation of natural spawning areas in the rivers, prevent poaching and continuing stocks rehabilitation under the management of all surrounded countries should be considered in form of a proper "action plan" for the Caspian Sea. Moreover, for more awareness of the public people and the appropriate cultural issues, a certain day is suggested as "National Sturgeon Conservation Day".