Sturgeon species of fish. Useful properties of stellate sturgeon Weight and dimensions of stellate sturgeon

, reptiles (reptiles), birds, their nests, eggs and voices, and mammals (animals) and traces of their vital activity,
20 colored laminated key tables, including: aquatic invertebrates, diurnal butterflies, fish, amphibians and reptiles, wintering birds, migratory birds, mammals and their tracks,
4 pocket field determinant, including: inhabitants of water bodies, birds of the middle zone and animals and their traces, as well as
65 methodical benefits and 40 educational and methodological films on methodologies conducting research work in nature (in the field).

Stellate sturgeon - Acipenser stellatus Pallas, 1771
(synonyms, obsolete names, subspecies, forms: motley, chevryuga - Acipenser seuruga, Acipenser Helops, Acipenser Ratzeburgii, Acipenser stellatus donensis, Hepops stellatus, Acipenser stellatus, Acipenser stellatus stellatus n. cyrensis)

Appearance and morphology. Stellate sturgeon is a fish of the sturgeon family, which has a very characteristic appearance thanks a lot elongated the shape of a nose or snout, the length of which is about 60% of the entire length of the head. tendrils short, without fringe. There are 40-54 rays in the dorsal fin, 22-35 in the anal fin. Dorsal scutes - 9-16, lateral - 26-43, abdominal - 9-14. The sides of the body between the rows of scutes are covered with stellate plates. Gill rakers 24-29.

The back is usually blackish brown colors, light sides, white belly.

By their own sizes stellate sturgeon is somewhat inferior to other sturgeons (beluga, sturgeon), except for sterlet and spike, which are smaller. The average weight of stellate sturgeon is different in different rivers and reservoirs and averages about 7-10 kilograms, however, some individuals reach a length of more than two meters and a weight of 80 kg. Limit dimensions, which this species reached in the past, according to ancient remains, is 270 cm; in the 20th century, the largest specimen of stellate sturgeon had a length of 218 cm and a mass of 54 kg. The usual dimensions of the Volga stellate sturgeon in the late 1960s and early 70s of the last century ranged from 126 to 152 cm and weight from 6.2 to 12.7 kg.

Like all sturgeons, stellate sturgeon is a long-liver among freshwater fish. According to archaeological materials, the maximum recorded age stellate sturgeon was 41 years old, in modern fish - 35 years.

Systematics. The Azov stellate sturgeon is sometimes distinguished as an independent subspecies Acipenser stellatus donensis Lovetsky, 1834. The stellate sturgeon can form hybrids with two closely related sturgeon species - sterlet and sturgeon. Stellate sturgeon belongs to the 120 chromosome group of sturgeons.

Lifestyle. Passing fish. In the Caspian, it disperses mainly along the western coast, in the area from the Astrakhan Spit to the Absheron Peninsula, occurring at depths from 100 to 300 m. In spring, it gradually migrates to the Northern Caspian, where it lives at a depth of 3 to 15 m.

Food. The main food of the stellate sturgeon in the Caspian Sea is the polychaete nereis Nereis diversicolor acclimatized here, as well as crustaceans. The Azov stellate sturgeon feeds on worms, amphipods, mysids and small fish (gobies, anchovy).

Reproduction. Migration into the rivers begins later than in other sturgeons (beluga and Russian sturgeon). Into the Volga begins to go to spawn in mid-April at a water temperature of 6-9 ° C, the peak of the course is in May at a temperature of 10-15 ° C (spring form). In June, the pace weakens. The intensity of the course increases again in August, September and October (winter form). Migration ends in December. In terms of numbers, the spring form sharply predominates. puberty the Volga stellate sturgeon reaches the age of 9-12 years (males) and 11-15 years (females). Azov stellate sturgeon (Don river) matures earlier: males - at 7-8 years old, females - at 9-11 years old. spawning grounds stellate sturgeon in the rivers are located lower than in the beluga and Russian sturgeon. The fecundity of the Volga stellate sturgeon ranges from 106-466 thousand eggs, the Ural - from 48 thousand to 950 thousand, the Don - from 90 to 537 thousand eggs. Spawning in the Volga stretches from May to August and occurs in a wide temperature range - from 12 to 26 ° C. Development eggs at a temperature of 16 ° C lasts 132 hours, at 23 ° C - 67.5 hours. After spawning, adult stellate sturgeon and hatched juveniles do not linger in the rivers and roll into the sea.

Spreading. Caspian, Black, Azov and Adriatic (rarely) seas, from where it enters the rivers for breeding. The main sturgeon rivers are the Volga, Ural, Terek, Kura, Don, Kuban, along the Volga it used to rise to the city of Rybinsk, along the Ural - to Uralsk, along the Don - to Pavlovsk, along the Kuban - to Armavir. In the 1930s, an attempt was made to acclimatize stellate sturgeon in the Aral Sea, but it was unsuccessful. In the drawing of the area, the lost parts of the area are marked in red, the places of archaeological finds of the remains of stellate sturgeon are marked with crosses.

In the 19th century, the distribution area of ​​this fish species was wider and stretched from Siberia to Western Europe. According to the famous Russian zoologist and connoisseur of hunting and fishing Leonid Pavlovich Sabaneev (1844-1898), it could be found even in the rivers of Austria, Germany and Italy. This is probably where the famous Italian dish, known as “Italian sturgeon”, comes from.

Economic value. The most valuable commercial fish. In the sturgeon fishery, it shares 1-2 place with the Russian sturgeon. The main area of ​​production is the Northern Caspian, where catches of stellate sturgeon in the 70s of the last century ranged from 10.0 to 13.2 thousand tons. Its bulk was caught in the Urals: from 7.0 to 9.9 thousand tons.

Along with its closest relatives the sturgeon, beluga and sterlet, the stellate sturgeon ranks high among all fish species in terms of its culinary value. Since ancient times, the tender, soft and healthy meat of this fish has been considered a delicacy. Also, for several centuries, stellate sturgeon caviar was highly valued. For a long time, the export of caviar to Europe brought Russia a considerable income.

Until recently, commercial production of stellate sturgeon occupied an important place in the fishing industry of our country. However, over the past few decades, the number of this species has declined sharply and now it is on the brink of extinction.

security status. In recent years, the abundance and catches of this species have become drop sharply. If in 1985, according to the All-Caspian survey, the total number of stellate sturgeon (from a year old and older) in the Caspian basin amounted to 75.9 million specimens, then by 1994 it fell to 13.5 million specimens. (almost 6 times). Stellate sturgeon is included in the IUCN Red List.

Description of stellate sturgeon from the book by L.P. Sabaneev "Fish of Russia. Life and fishing of our freshwater fish" (1875)

The stellate sturgeon is easily distinguished from all other sturgeons by its extraordinary long nose, which is almost shaped like a dagger and gives it a very strange look. Her forehead is rather convex, the antennae are smooth and narrow, not reaching the mouth, on which the lower lip is poorly developed; her body is also elongated in length and all the bugs on the body are quite close; dorsal (12-18) and lateral (30-40) rise towards the posterior end and are elongated into uncinate processes; ventral scutes (10-12) relatively well developed.

The body color is red-brown with a bluish-black tint, the sides and belly are white. The length and shape of the nose, however, varies greatly; so in females and young it is always shorter, and in the Sea of ​​Azov stellate sturgeons, which generally reach the greatest growth here, are distinguished by a short snout, which, moreover, has a slightly different shape (var. donensis). Probably, the so-called motley, which the fishermen of the southwestern provinces consider a special breed from the stellate sturgeon, belongs to the same variety; however, her bugs (brackets) are located more often, and she rarely reaches 16 kg. In general, in terms of size and weight, this fish occupies the middle between the sterlet and the sturgeon. With the same weight, stellate sturgeon is always much longer than other sturgeons, and a 24-kilogram stellate sturgeon (Grimm) has a length of up to 2 m.

The area of ​​distribution of the stellate sturgeon is even more limited than the distribution of the beluga, which occasionally enters the Mediterranean Sea, as well as the sturgeon found in Western Siberia, especially the sterlet. the Caspian and Black Seas, especially the Sea of ​​Azov, and big rivers, flowing into them, constitute the only habitat of this fish, which, however, in its numbers significantly exceeds its relatives, with the exception of one sterlet. In the largest number, stellate sturgeon enters the Urals, Kura, Kuban, Dniester and Bug, but nowhere, however, does it rise very high; in the Urals, it rarely goes above Uralsk, in the Volga - above Samara and Simbirsk, and in extremely rare cases is seen in the upper Volga (up to Yaroslavl and Rybinsk) and in the Kama (up to Chistopol); in other tributaries of the Volga, apparently, it does not exist at all; in the Kuban it is very numerous and goes higher than the Laba and even flies in the latter; from the southern part of the Caspian, it enters all rivers, even small ones, such as, for example, the Atrek. On the Don, she was noticed as far as Pavlovsk; in the Dnieper, however, it rarely rises above the rapids and is almost never caught near Kyiv. Finally, in the Danube, where it, however, is included in a relatively small amount; stellate sturgeon is almost never seen in Austria, although it comes into the Drau and Teys.

In size, the stellate sturgeon is significantly inferior to the sturgeon and never exceeds 5-5.5 m in length and 47 kg in weight. The average weight of this fish in the Caspian is 5.2-5.6 kg, in the Sea of ​​Azov, where it is more numerous, it is 8 kg.

The rarity of stellate sturgeon in the upper reaches of the rivers depends partly on the fact that it rises during the flood itself, when fishing becomes extremely difficult in general, but mainly on its spawning in the lower reaches and a very short stay in fresh water. Having spawned, in contrast to the sturgeon and especially the beluga, which for some time "fatten" in the river and slide down very slowly, with long stops, the stellate sturgeon immediately returns to the sea; as for its autumn course into the river, it is almost always much less than in spring and does not extend further than the lower reaches, and then only in the Urals. Most of the stellate sturgeon winters in the sea or in front of estuaries, rarely in river yatov, and its main catch is made in the open sea.

Here, therefore, it stays most of the year, and fresh water is of less importance to it than to other red fish. However, it is rarely seen on large sea ​​depths and, apparently, chooses here, like sturgeons, places abounding in shells, which constitute her exclusive food. The stellate sturgeon almost never feeds on fish. Nevertheless, it surpasses all red fish in the speed and agility of its movements: the first onslaught of stellate sturgeon, according to the fishermen, is always faster than that of the beluga, and it rises up the river in the spring at a considerable speed, so that it travels 25-30 kilometers a day. . Down, it usually rolls sideways, leaving itself to the will of the current.

This autumn run of stellate sturgeon always begins later than the run of beluga and sturgeon. In the Caspian Sea, it sets off at the end of March or at the beginning of April; its main catch occurs in the Urals in the second half of this month, around April 23rd. At this time, it enters the river in large schools and goes shallow, closer to the surface, adhering to the banks and keeping its nose up. This first halt of the stellate sturgeon to the shores is known among the Ural Cossacks under the name of the Yegoryevsky belyak. Its second exit from the sea is already significantly inferior to the first and is called Nikolsky belyak. According to Severtsev, stellate sturgeon is the first year goes by from the sea to the lower reaches of the Urals and spawns there, then rolls into the sea and goes back to the lower reaches in the fall, winters there, rises a little higher and, having spawned eggs here in the spring, again rolls into the sea, winters on sea yatov, etc. Thus , stellate sturgeon tosses, like a sterlet, every year. It enters the Don in March and April.

Judging by the fact that stellate sturgeons weighing 3.2 kg and 70 cm tall are not found in the river or are very rare, it must be assumed that only such fish reach sexual maturity; yet the smaller ones are in the sea. At least young stellate sturgeons stay in the rivers for a very short time, and even then they come across only in the very lower reaches; for example, they were noticed 46 kilometers above Guryev (in the Urals).

The time of spawning of stellate sturgeon almost coincides with the time of spawning of sterlets - it is in the Volga (near Simbirsk), according to Ovsyannikov, that it happens around May 10; in the Urals, she rushes from the first days of May to the middle of June, mainly at the end of May. This circumstance explains why, among the sturgeon crosses, the so-called sturgeon is most often noticed. sturgeon spike, i.e. a mixture of stellate sturgeon and sterlet. On the Don, stellate sturgeon spawning occurs in early May. According to Potekhin, in the Saratov waters, the stellate sturgeon thrashes on the right bank of the Volga in stones. Saratov fishermen claim that the female, when throwing eggs, beats hard and rubs against stones.

Sevruga caviar is very numerous and on average there are about 400,000 eggs the size of a large fraction. In general, stellate sturgeon, with the same weight as other red fish, gives a relatively larger amount of caviar. The spawning itself takes place, as has already been noted, in the very lower reaches of the rivers, sometimes even, apparently, almost in the sea itself, which, however, is an abnormal phenomenon caused by the abundance of false mouths of the Ural River. According to fishermen, stellate sturgeons always throw big flocks, in much greater numbers than other red fish, and at this time they crowd and often jump out of the water. However, the stellate sturgeon, which has already stopped for spawning and is disturbed by something, often goes back to the sea, although it probably comes back again. Young stellate sturgeons grow up to 27-36 cm per year (fishing measure), and it must be assumed that this fish becomes capable of breeding in the 4th year.

Sturgeon species of fish are distinguished by the fact that they live in salty, sea ​​water, and go to spawning rivers with fresh water or other bodies of water. At the same time, it should be noted that sturgeons have representatives of small sizes, from 30 to 100 cm long and weighing from half a kilogram to 5 kg, as well as representatives that grow up to 10 meters in length, weighing about 3 tons. The catch of sturgeon species of fish in our time is a serious fishery, reaching large volumes. Because of this, the population of these fish species is constantly decreasing, and some of the species are forbidden to be caught at all. Sturgeons are valued for their tasty and valuable meat, as well as caviar.

The sturgeon family is distinguished by an elongated body shape, on which there are 5 rows of hard spikes made of bone tissue. Two rows are located on the belly, two on the sides and one row on the back, and in the gap between them there are bone protective plates.

The sturgeon is characterized by a cone-shaped, somewhat elongated snout, in the form of a shovel. On the underside is a mouth, with fleshy lips and four mustaches. The structure of the jaw is distinguished by a retractable shape, on which there are no teeth.

The pectoral fin is distinguished by the shape of a “thorn” with a thickening, and the dorsal fin is slightly shifted back. The swim bladder is connected to the esophagus and is located below the spine. The fish skeleton is distinguished by a cartilaginous, invertebrate structure in the form of a chord. The membranes of the 4 gills are connected in the throat area. In addition, there are 2 additional gills.

Almost all species of sturgeon, before the process of spawning, move to shallow depths of freshwater reservoirs. Sturgeons are quite prolific, since adults are able to lay up to 1 million eggs. Most spawning occurs in the spring. Some species of sturgeon not only spawn in fresh waters, but quite often wait out the winter in them. Sturgeons prefer a benthic lifestyle, feeding on worms, small fish, insects, and mollusks.

Sturgeon species of fish, or rather about 20 species, are long-lived, since they can live up to 100 years, although this applies to only one species. The life span of other species does not exceed 60 years. Maturity in many species occurs at different periods, depending on the conditions of existence and the availability of food resources. Some of the species begin to spawn at 15 years of age. Wherein:

• Females mature at the age of 10-12 years.
• Males are ready for fertilization, starting from 7 years of age.

Sturgeons are a type of fish that grow quickly and gain weight quickly. In the Don and Dnieper rivers, sturgeons mature somewhat faster than representatives living in the Volga. This is not surprising, since the climate is somewhat colder on the Volga.

Only the sterlet spawns annually, while other species do not differ in this feature and can spawn in a year or even two. They spawn in the spring-summer period in fresh rivers, which differ swift current. Sturgeon caviar is highly sticky, therefore, it is firmly held on pebbles and other rocks.

Sturgeon fry, when born, are in the yolk sac, which is what they feed on in the first days, until this sac is resolved. After that, they begin to independently search for food. Sometimes they linger in their places of birth, but mostly, they roll into the sea. The diet of fry consists of zooplankton, after a certain period, having matured a little, their diet consists of:

• From mysid.
• from chironomids.
• From the Gammarids.

But, as for the beluga fry, they are born without a yolk bladder and immediately begin to independently look for food for themselves. Almost up to sexually mature age, sturgeons develop in salty, sea water. There are 2 varieties of sturgeon: winter and spring. The last species enter the rivers in spring, before the start of spawning, and the first species enters the rivers in autumn, winter in these reservoirs and lay eggs in spring.

Classification of sturgeon fish species

There are 2 types of the sturgeon family:

• Skafir.
• Sturgeon.

Previously, there were more than 20 species of fish that were found in the waters of America, Europe and Asia. Unfortunately, in our time, the sturgeon population has a slightly smaller number of species, no more than 20.

List of sturgeon fish species with photos and names

Sturgeons occupy a special niche in the fishery. In our time, it is worth paying attention to some representatives of this family, which are of commercial interest. The following types are considered the most popular and in demand.

This is the oldest representative of the sturgeon family, and also the largest. Beluga is able to live for about 100 years, while growing up to 10 meters in length and gaining weight of 3 tons. The body of the beluga looks like a torpedo and is protected by 5 rows of protective plates. It is white on the bottom and gray on the top. The mouth is located at the bottom of the head and has a crescent shape. It also has a mustache that helps the fish navigate in space and look for food. The females are larger than the males. They lay eggs once every 2-3 years. This is a predatory fish whose diet consists of gobies, anchovies, roach, herring and other fish.

Refers to freshwater fish kind of beluga and can grow in length up to 5 and a half meters and gaining weight up to 1 ton. Kaluga has a relatively large mouth. Distinguish kaluga fast-growing, firth and migratory. To a greater extent, this fish is found in the basins of such rivers as the Amur, Sungari, Shilka and Argun.

This fish is characterized by a spindle-shaped body, which ends in a blunt snout. Mustaches are located at the ends of the mouth. The belly of the Russian sturgeon is white, the sides are gray-brown, and the back is dark gray. It can grow up to 3.5 meters in length and weigh up to 120 kg. Can live up to 60 years. AT natural environment habitats, this fish can create hybrids with beluga, sterlet, stellate sturgeon and spike. In fact, this happens very rarely, but hybrids still come across. Habitat - Black Sea, Caspian and Azov Seas.

It grows up to one and a half meters in length and gains weight up to 4.5 kg. Has a flat and pretty a long tail with bony fins. It has a large swim bladder and small eyes. It is mainly found in the Amudarya river basin.

Numerous bone plates and fulcra are placed on the body of this fish. There are no teeth, while the mouth is retractable, and 4 antennae are located in front of it. This fish inhabits the basins of such rivers as the Ob, Yenisei, Kolyma and Lena. The Siberian sturgeon lives for almost 50 years, growing up to 3.5 meters in length and gaining a weight of about 150 kg. Spawns in July. The diet includes organisms living at the bottom of water bodies: mollusks, chiromid larvae and polychaete worms. In other words, this fish leads a benthic lifestyle.

It has a classic appearance inherent in sturgeons. There are 5 rows of bone spikes on the body. Habitats - basins of the Aral, Caspian, Azov and Black Seas.

Habitats are common with such a representative of the sturgeon family as a spike. At the same time, spring and winter stellate sturgeon are distinguished. Characteristic features body structures are: a poorly developed lower jaw, a convex forehead, a long nose, a smooth and thin mustache. Almost the entire body is covered with protective bone plates. The belly of the stellate sturgeon is white, and the sides and back are blue-black. It can grow up to 6 meters in length and weigh about 60 kg.

This is the smallest representative of this family, as it grows in length no more than 120 cm, with a weight of 20 kg. The fish is distinguished by the presence of long whiskers that reach the mouth and a narrow but elongated nose. At the same time, the lower lip is divided into 2 parts, and on the sides the body is covered with solid shields. The same shields protect the fish from the back. Depending on the habitat, the sterlet may differ in different colors, although its main coloring is a yellow-white belly and a gray-brown back. All fins are grey. There are sharp-nosed and blunt-nosed sterlet. Habitats - northern regions of Siberia.

It has long been believed that sturgeon species of fish are a delicacy fish with special taste characteristics. It is sold fresh, live, frozen, smoked and chilled. Sturgeons serve as an initial product for the preparation of balyk and various canned food. The sale of sturgeon, in salted form, is prohibited, since a pathogenic anaerobe, botulinum, is found in sturgeon meat, which is a source of acute poisoning.

In the old days, only sturgeon species of fish, such as beluga, sterlet, stellate sturgeon and sturgeon, were classified as red fish. Moreover, they called her red not because she had a pink tint of meat, but for her beautiful taste qualities and very useful caviar. In our time, the status of red fish is more attached to salmon species of fish. Therefore, salmon, pink salmon and chum salmon are also called red fish. Most likely, this is due to the fact that in our time there are much more salmon than sturgeons.

Sturgeons have their own characteristic trade and culinary classification, depending on their habitat. The first group includes sturgeon species that are found in the Black and Caspian Seas. The first category includes: beluga, sterlet, spike, sturgeon and stellate sturgeon. The second category includes salmon, such as trout, pink salmon or chum salmon. To last group include salmon with white meat, such as coho salmon, white salmon, nelma and taimen.

Red fish is valued for a large assortment nutrients found in meat. These are vitamins of groups "A", "B", "E", "PP" and "D", as well as minerals such as zinc, phosphorus, calcium, fluorine and iodine. Also, this list is not complete. But the most important advantage is the presence in the meat of this fish of fatty acids, such as Omega-3. Due to the presence of this acid, the work of the central nervous system, immunity increases, memory improves, etc.

Scientists have proven that the category of people who regularly consume red fish is less susceptible to manifestations of depression, and their risks of developing hypertension or oncology are reduced by 3 times. Therefore, in our time, a ban on commercial fishing has been imposed on some species of both sturgeon and salmon. Their fishing is allowed only with special licenses. This also applies to recreational fishing. Heavy fines are imposed for unauthorized fishing. Unfortunately, these measures do not stop poachers.

It can be sold not only chilled or frozen, but also alive. It is believed that the most delicious fish are individuals that have reached a weight of at least 3 kg. Unlike most cases, sturgeon, the more, the tastier.

Sturgeon can be sold:

• whole or cut into pieces in a frozen form;
• live;
• whole or cut into pieces chilled;
• without packaging or packaged in containers.

It is recommended to buy chilled or live sturgeon. Frozen fish is no less tasty than fresh, but it is more difficult to choose it. Some stages of quality assessment cannot be carried out. In addition, there is a risk of buying stale sturgeon, which was frozen specifically to hide the first signs of spoilage.

How to choose a sturgeon

When choosing any, including sturgeon, you must first pay attention to its appearance and smell. It is also not worth ignoring the information on the labels if the fish is packaged in separate containers or bags. Buying spoiled or expired fish can be harmful to your health if you eat it.

What kind of sturgeon should I buy:

• the larger the sturgeon, the better and tastier it is;
• butchering a sturgeon implies some nuances, therefore, when buying this fish for the first time, it is better to know in advance the intricacies of its preparation;
• the smell of sturgeon should be fresh and "fishy";
• in sturgeons, the gills are always dark in color (in addition, the gills must be clean, without mucus or pollution);
• sturgeon skin should not have even the slightest damage (bacteria quickly accumulate and begin to multiply at the site of damage, so the fish can begin to deteriorate without changing the smell or appearance);
• if you press the skin of the sturgeon with your finger, then no deformation should be observed (any kind of chilled fish is checked in this way);
• if the sturgeon is bought in sliced ​​form, then you need to pay attention to the skin, which should fit snugly against the meat (otherwise, the fish can be considered of poor quality);
• if the sturgeon is bought frozen or in ice glaze, then the ice should not be cloudy or contain particles of debris, as well as blood (a large amount of snow or ice indicates re-freezing of the fish);
• sturgeon steaks may differ in color (the meat of this breed of fish has different shades depending on the subspecies - grayish, creamy or pinkish);
• on a sturgeon steak, a strip of fat is permissible (visually, fat is very easy to distinguish from meat, it is usually located under the skin);
• the belly of the sturgeon should be pinkish (any spots of unknown origin, inclusions or the presence of other shades are considered a deviation).

When buying fresh sturgeon in a chilled or live form, you must definitely ask the seller for a certificate with a note on the date the fish went on sale. Fresh sturgeon can only be sold within 14 days.

Which sturgeon is not worth buying:

• if an unpleasant smell is felt from the sturgeon, then you should not buy it (the fish is spoiled or stored incorrectly);
• if there are damages on the surface of the sturgeon, you should refuse to buy it;
• gray and green gills of sturgeon are considered a sign of its too long storage;
• if there are white or red spots on the skin of the sturgeon, then this may be a sign of a fish illness;
• if the sturgeon is frozen, and there are stains on its surface (most often yellow or rusty), then this is a sign of repeated defrosting or improper transportation of the fish;
• if the belly of the sturgeon has acquired a yellowish tint, then the fish begins to deteriorate.

The choice has several nuances. For example, it is believed that the gills of fresh fish should be red. It is almost impossible to find a sturgeon with such features. The gills of this breed of fish are always dark, and in the presence of any of their other shades, it is better to refuse to buy. The sturgeon is often called the "river pig" because of big size and lots of meat. This name indicates a sign that must be considered when buying - the meatier the fish, the juicier and tastier it will be.

The strange sturgeon appearance with a convex forehead, narrow smooth antennae, a long nose, the length and shape of which change with age, is amazing. It is quite reasonable, seeing such a dish on the ceremonial table, one feels interest and curiosity - what does this taste like? marine life and how is it useful?

Benefits, properties and composition of stellate sturgeon

Seafood, and fish in particular, has a high nutritional value.

This is due to fish protein, the connective tissues of which are represented mainly by collagen, which easily passes into a soluble form - gelatin. That is why the fish is easily boiled soft and its nutrients are absorbed most fully. Fish proteins are digested by 95%, while meat proteins by 89%.

Sturgeon species of fish, to which it belongs, along with salmon fish, are the richest in protein.

High the nutritional value stellate sturgeon is also due to the increased content of omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in it, which have high physiological activity. These fatty acids have an anti-inflammatory effect, reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, and somewhat contribute to weight loss.

Any fish is also rich in phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, iodine and fluorine, B vitamins, and fish liver is also rich in vitamins A, D, E.

Stellate sturgeon caviar

Stellate sturgeon caviar is very numerous compared to other red fish of the same weight. On average, there are about 400,000 eggs with delicate skin.

Sturgeon caviar has a persistent dark gray color and relatively small size.

According to the tradition of caviar enterprises in Russia, stellate sturgeon caviar is packed in jars with red lids.

In terms of commercial value, stellate sturgeon caviar ranks third after beluga and sturgeon caviar.

Sturgeon caviar is valued depending on the size and color of the grain. Larger caviar is more valuable light color- just like a beluga.

The stellate sturgeon caviar is small, the diameter of the eggs is 1.5-1.8 millimeters.

Once having tasted stellate sturgeon caviar, then it can no longer be confused with any other - its taste is so pronounced.

Harm and contraindications to the use of stellate sturgeon caviar

Market caviar is usually too salty and wet, because the processing does not remove excess moisture, which affects the weight of the original product.

Transportation and storage of poaching caviar also leave much to be desired.

The microbiological indicators of such caviar indicate its negligible nutritional and healing effect.

Now about market craftsmen. A substance can be mixed into a jar of caviar, from which the caviar begins to swell, which makes the jar look overflowing with the product. But in fact, the true volume of caviar did not even reach the first edge of the neck.

A product of such poor quality can, of course, be purchased in a store, but, nevertheless, making a purchase in a store and having a confirmation receipt in hand, you can easily return a low-quality product. It will be more profitable for the store manager to return the money than to argue on his own head.

But in general, the therapeutic properties of black caviar are greatly exaggerated. It makes no sense to acquire it for a person weakened by illness. It is better to spend this amount on fish oil with the addition of Omega-3 and good vitamins.

And black caviar is just a chic delicacy and a gastronomic delicacy to splurge.

Sevruga in weight loss

Among all sturgeon species, stellate sturgeon has the least fat (up to 11%) and the most tender fibrous meat. Although it is classified as a fatty fish, the calorie content of one hundred grams of stellate sturgeon is 136 kcal.

Sevruga in cooking, stellate sturgeon dishes

The unusual appearance of the stellate sturgeon, resembling the shape of a dagger, thanks to its long nose, makes it an attractive guest on the festive table.

The stellate sturgeon goes on sale frozen, in the form of balyk, cold and hot smoked.

Steamed stellate sturgeon is magnificent, with a vegetable or mushroom side dish stewed in cream, broth or wine. A sauce made from kiwi seeds wiped from seeds with a small amount of butter and a few drops of Tabasco sauce cooked on a steam bath.

Tabasco sauce is very spicy, so try not to overdo it. It is prepared from hot chili peppers soaked in vinegar and salt. It is suitable not only for fish, but also in omelettes, stews, soups, and other sauces.

Sevruga baked with onions and mushrooms

Put the fish in a frying pan in which a little mushroom sauce with onions is poured. Arrange halves of fried tomato on the fish, pour the same mushroom sauce with onions on top, sprinkle with grated cheese, anoint with melted butter and bake.

Fried stellate sturgeon breaded in breadcrumbs

We cut the fish into portions, bread them first in flour, then moisten in the egg and bread in breadcrumbs.
Deep fry, in a large amount of fat, and then put in the oven for five minutes.
Before serving, put a slice of lemon on the fish.
Garnish for this dish - fried potatoes with parsley, tomato, mustard sauce or mayonnaise is served separately in a gravy boat.

Sevruga with mayonnaise

Refrigerate boiled fish. Boil potatoes, turnips and carrots, peel and cut into small cubes. Stir, add a little lemon juice, and separate one third of the vegetables, which we season with mayonnaise and put in the middle of the dish. Put the cleaned boiled fish on top.
Place the rest of the garnish around the fish and fill the fish with mayonnaise. Decorate with cucumbers, tomatoes, green peas.

Lilia Yurkanis
for women's magazine site

When using and reprinting the material, an active link to the women's online magazine is required

Glycemic index (GI) – 0.

Calorie content - 160 kcal.

Sevruga belongs to the Sturgeon family. Large individuals can reach a size of 5 meters, weigh 50 kg and reach the age of 30 years. In the fishery, there are usually no more than 1.5 meters, which weigh 5-6 kg. This slave lives in the seas, only for throwing caviar enters the river basins. Distributed in the Black, Caspian, Azov Sea. Actively grown artificially. In terms of production among sturgeon breeds, it ranks first.

Useful properties of stellate sturgeon

The meat of stellate sturgeon is rich in protein and fatty acids Omega-3 and Omega-6. It contains a lot of collagen, which is perfectly absorbed by the body and saturates with useful substances.

Stellate sturgeon has a rich mineral composition: fluorine, iodine, phosphorus (220 mg), magnesium, zinc, potassium (335 mg), chlorine (165 mg), sulfur (169 mg), etc. Vitamins: PP, A, D, group B , E. Unlike other sturgeons, it has high dietary properties. There is a large amount of protein fibers and a low fat content.

How stellate sturgeon affects the body

Despite the relatively large amount of fat, has small indicator energy value, therefore useful for people who want to lose weight. The use of this fish contributes to weight loss in obesity, reduces the risk of diseases of the cardiovascular system.

It has a beneficial effect on the nervous system, strengthens the walls of blood vessels, increases their elasticity. Activates the brain, stimulates the immune system. Is prevention oncological diseases. Normalizes blood pressure, improves mental processes. Has anti-inflammatory properties.

How to choose the right sturgeon

The fish goes on sale in frozen and chilled form. When buying a fresh product, make sure the quality of the fish: no clouding of the eyes, mucus, unpleasant odor. Mainly hot and cold smoked balyk is in demand.

When purchasing smoked stellate sturgeon, make sure that the cover is intact: without scratches and tears. Coloring should be uniform and without spots. The surface is shiny and smooth. If there are white spots, then this indicates the possibility of a poor-quality cooking process and it is better not to take such fish. The smell should be bright and juicy, if weak - the product is stale and stale.

Storage methods

Fresh fish at a temperature of -5 ° C can be refrigerated for no more than 2 days. Frozen - up to 6 months.

What is combined with in cooking

Sevruga has tender and aromatic meat. It is baked, stewed in broth, cream, wine. It goes well with mushroom and vegetable side dishes, with mustard, tomato sauces, mayonnaise and fruit. Prepared in onion and cheese filling.

Useful food combination

Following the principles of proper nutrition, steam, boiled or baked stellate sturgeon will bring benefits. For the broth, an obligatory component will be Bay leaf, root parsley, carrots, black peppercorns, cumin, onion. For baking, it is good to use spicy greens, garlic, suneli hops and other spices.

For those who want to lose weight will benefit vegetable soups on stellate sturgeon broth, and it is better to use stewed and boiled vegetables for garnish.

Contraindications

There may be restrictions for individual intolerance. Sevruga caviar is not recommended for hypertension, gout, coronary heart disease.

Application in medicine and cosmetology

For medical purposes, glue is produced from the stellate sturgeon swim bladder, which is used in surgical operations to seamlessly connect organic tissues. It is a natural product that is non-toxic and non-allergenic.

The meat of this fish is recommended for nutrition in the postoperative period, for rehabilitation and quick recovery after illnesses. For raising immunity, increasing potency, with disorders of the nervous system, hypertension, diabetes mellitus. In order to prevent diseases of the heart, blood vessels.

Sevruga caviar is effective at a low level of hemoglobin, reduces the risk of malignant tumors, and is good for vision.

In cosmetology, creams and masks are used, which include caviar of this fish.