At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Fish
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The kaluga is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world, a giant sturgeon of the Amur River. It is assessed as Critically Endangered.
It is hunted for its valuable caviar.
Range & habitat
The Amur River basin on the border of Russia and China.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Overfishing and poaching for caviar
- Dams and habitat change
- Slow maturation
Why it matters
A giant, ancient river fish driven down by the caviar trade, the kaluga is a flagship for conserving the Amur River and its megafauna.
Sources
Sources for Kaluga
- IUCN Red List — look up Kaluga (authoritative status)
- FishBase
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is the kaluga?
It is among the largest freshwater fish on Earth, historically reaching several metres and very large weights, and can live for decades.
Why is the kaluga Critically Endangered?
Published assessments cite overfishing and poaching for caviar, dams and habitat change, and slow maturation. See the IUCN Red List.
Last updated: