Sakhalin Sturgeon

The Sakhalin Sturgeon is so uncommon that it is rarely observed or captured in the wild. According to the IUCN Red List, the Sakhalin Sturgeon has never been a plentiful fish, but it was more regularly seen for sale in Hokkaido, Japan, in the 1950s. Since then, the wild Sakhalin Sturgeon population has plummeted.

The actual number of Sakhalin Sturgeon in the wild is unknown, however it is thought that only 10 – 30 adults spawn in the Tumnin River each year. A few individuals were captured in 2005 and 2008 and utilised to try to create a captive breeding population. The most serious threat to the Sakhalin Sturgeon’s existence is illegal poaching while it is migrating for spawning. According to the IUCN Red List, the Sakhalin Sturgeon may go extinct over the next 10 To 15 years.