articles without permissioninwritingfrom thepublisher. any formorby any means,electronicormechanical, includingphotocopying, recording,orany informationstorage andretrieval system, Copyright ©2007 by theAmericanSociety ofAgronomy. Allrightsreserved. Nopartof thisperiodicalmay bereproducedortransmitted in 677 S. SegoeRd., Madison,WI53711USA © AmericanSociety ofAgronomy http://www.JNRLSE.org J. Nat.Resour. LifeSci.Educ.36:66–75(2007). Received 5Apr. 2007.*Correspondingauthor([email protected]). Inst. andStateUniv., 100CheathamHall,Blacksburg,VA 24061. Department ofFisheriesandWildlifeSciences,VirginiaPolytechnic The Case tion. created inanattempttoprotectthisspeciesfromextinc problem andthemanagementstrategies thathave been This caseexplorestheissuessurroundingthiscomplicated leading tomoreoverfishing, poaching,andillegaltrade. ing asfishingrightsweredivided.Enforcementweakened, Soviet Unionin1991,managementbecamemorechalleng the declineofbelugasturgeon.Afterdissolution ing, natural factors,andpollutionhave allcontributedto the past20years (Exhibit1).Lossofhabitat,overfish plummeting inthe1920sandcontinuingtodeclineduring much attentionduetodecreasingabundance,withcatches for morethanUS$5000.Recently, this fisheryhasattracted sturgeon roe(oreggs)cansellontheUnitedStatesmarket This speciesisprized foritscaviar; akilogram ofbeluga B 66 66 stirred thesedimentwithhersnoutandfeltmovement. her mouthtodetectsmallorganismsonthebottom.She Like allsturgeon,sheusedthesensitive barbelsaround flowed aroundherasshesearchedfornextmeal. in prehistoric-looking bony plates,andthewater quickly rents oftheCaspianSea.Hersleekbodywas covered complicated probleminvolving many opinions,countries,andlivelihoods. students resources, After completingthiscase,studentswillhave abetterunderstandingofthecomplex processofmanagingsharednatural closing Sea. tional ecological complicated has years ABSTRACT Caspian Sea since the middle 1800s (Raspopov, 1993a). eluga sturgeonisaspeciesthathasbeenfishedinthe

The belugasturgeonmoved slowlythroughthecur created A their Trade year beluga to conditions specifically numbers expand The DeclineoftheBelugaSturgeon: ACaseStudy much later, in by Beluga sturgeon JOURNAL OF NATURAL RESOURCES & LIFE SCIENCES EDUCATION SCIENCES LIFE & RESOURCES NATURAL OF JOURNAL Endangered management

CITES controversy their have that dealing sturgeon trade critical declined re-opened have

Species impacts that as decreased with about FisheriesManagement thinking ( Larissa J. Graham*andBrianR.Murphy Huso huso to by varies (CITES) the whether beluga 90%, the

trade skills among survival market plummeting ) sturgeon have harvest suspended of for beluga countries and and inhabited decision - and populations - affects - natural

to sturgeon, - the trade the sharing making the trading many reproduction. lowest Species Act;USFWS, UnitedStatesFishandWildlifeService. Endangered SpeciesofWildFauna andFlora; ESA, Endangered Abbreviations: CITES, Convention onInternationalTrade in cies atadisadvantage. Inthepastcentury, anthropogenic in naturally changingconditionsarenowputtingthisspe years withunsuitableconditions(Al-HolyandRasco, 2006). spawn onlyduringsuitable years andresorbeggsduring and Farr, 1997).Alongerlife-spanalsoallowssturgeonto reduces predationandincreaseslongevity (Beamesderfer growth, allowingtheindividualtoattainalargersize. This Farr, 1997).Maturinglaterinlifeallocatesenergytoward variation inenvironmental conditions(Beamesderferand a highnumberofoffspring)bufferpopulationsfromannual maturation, longevity, andhighfecundity (ability toproduce stantly changing(BeamesderferandFarr, 1997).Delayed thrive inriver systemsthatarelarge,diverse, andcon have evolved life-historycharacteristics thatallowthemto 2005). Duringthelast100millionyears, belugasturgeon Billard andLecointre,2001;FishBase,2005;Pikitchetal., meters andweighingover 2000kg(Exhibit2,CITES, 2000; freshwater fishinEurope,capableofreachinglengths6 of earth large size, sheusuallyswam throughthemiddleof mud. Mostofthetime,shedidnotfeedthisway. At her sediment toslurpupthesmallcrustaceanburiedin Quickly, sheprotrudedhervacuum-like mouthintothe Adaptations thathave allowedbelugasturgeon tothrive The belugasturgeon,orgreatisthelargest starvation. meters andwouldbeaccompaniedby longperiods of migration, atrekthatwouldcover over a1000kilo able foodsource.Soonshewouldbeginherspawning told herthatshehadtotake advantage ofevery avail water columnfeedingonlargerfish.However, instinct despite in this parties, the on of population the for all species a same more Caspian global, much wild including In resources, than January should beluga pressure sizes ecological Sea 100 fishers, ever region. continue. sturgeon 2006, million international from recorded. issue the consumers, This researchers. years. caviar The Convention while case

This VOLUME 36 VOLUME situation During trade, from learning will and drastic Opening the and on

the also managers. is Caspian Interna about decline past further altered allow

and 2007 - - 20 a - - - articles - - 67 ), (Raspopov, (Raspopov,

Aspius aspius Huso huso 2007

Catch data over time for Catch data VOLUME 36

Exhibit 1. Exhibit beluga sturgeon, et al., 2000; Pikitch 1993a; CITES, 2005). Where the nets were teeming with fish The old Russian fisherman pulled his seine fisherman The old Russian except for a couple small chubs ( for a couple except “No luck stuck within the diamond-shaped mesh. He thought that due he said disappointedly. again,” fishing in to additional regulations, the closure of from the Caspian Sea, and the release of juveniles But hatcheries, his catches should be increasing. seemed to bring more regula year instead, every catch tions and fewer fish. The fish that he did before. smaller than years were also considerably of regulations, most And, due to increased size Angered, what he caught could not be harvested. he started the motor on his boat and slowly where he headed back to the landing, wondering this would get the money to support his family month. net into his small boat, one handful at a time. net into his small boat, one handful at had just The second fishing season of the year season of begun and he had high hopes that this last. sturgeon fishing would be better than the empty, Handful after handful the net came up Exhibit 3. 10 years ago, fishermen now pull out only a few small sturgeons and other fish. Photo credit: Hans-Jurgen Bur kard/Bilderberg, courtesy of Caviar Emptor. tive incentive, the potential reward for capturing one female for capturing the potential reward incentive, tive and illegal fishing, both legal sturgeon has led to heavy (Exhibit 3). - - - ) A. per Acipenser A. nudiventris ), Persian ( ), Persian ), and ship ( A. gueldenstaedtii A. ruthenus In the past decade, fishermen have rarely ), Russian ( ), Russian ), sterlet ( Sturgeons are fished for their meat and, more com Sturgeons are fished for their meat and, JOURNAL OF NATURAL RESOURCES & LIFE SCIENCES EDUCATION Caviar Emptor. Exhibit 2. seen mid-sized beluga sturgeon like the one pictured here, captured from the Volga River in Russia. Photo credit: Hans-Jurgen Burkard/Bilderberg, courtesy of selling for two to three times the price of other sturgeon selling for two to three times the price 2001). With such a lucra and Raymakers, (Vaisman caviar al., 2005). With populations decreasing and fewer sturgeon 2005). With populations decreasing al., has skyrocketed. the price of caviar for harvest, available of all caviars, as the most expensive ranks Beluga caviar sicus 2000). Of these, the beluga, sturgeon (Levin, 1997; CITES, sturgeons supply the majority and Persian stellate, Russian, (Levin, 1997; Pikitch et caviar of all internationally traded monly, their roe, which is harvested to make the expensive the expensive to make their roe, which is harvested monly, Six species of sturgeon occur in the delicacy called caviar. ( Caspian and Black Seas: the beluga, stellate stellatus The Decline of the Fishery extinct (Birstein, 1993; Beamesderfer and Farr, 1997). This and Farr, extinct (Birstein, 1993; Beamesderfer which despite is especially true for the beluga sturgeon, fished and poorly managed low numbers is still heavily very throughout the Caspian Sea region. habitat have caused almost all sturgeon species to decrease caused almost all sturgeon species habitat have plummeted of these populations have in abundance; many or even where they are threatened, endangered, to levels factors, such as overfishing, damming, and destruction of damming, and destruction factors, such as overfishing, articles have become solowinnumbersthattheyhave beenlisted Danube River, themajorriver thatfeedstheBlackSea, of belugasturgeon(Pikitchet al., 2005). Populations inthe little totrade, butstillshowtrendsofdecreasingnumbers past years, harvests fromtheBlackSeahave contributed Turkey, Ukraine, Russia, andGeorgia(Exhibit4).During which issurroundedby thecountriesofRomania, Bulgaria, ers, fishingcompanies,andconsumers. or caviar canbeharvested andexported),impactingfish (limits thataresettoregulatehowmany tonsoffishmeat in thisarea.Thishasresultedadeclinecatchquotas years, belugasturgeonexportshave drastically decreased ers, 2001;Raymakers andHoover, 2002).Over the past30 Sea basin(Barannikova etal., 1995;Vaisman andRaymak sturgeon harvests onceoriginatedfromwithintheCaspian and Iran (Exhibit4).Itisestimatedthat90%oftheworld’s countries ofRussia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, fed by morethan100river systemsandisborderedby the for sturgeonfisheries.Thisslightlysalinebodyofwater is ein etal., 1997;CITES, 2000). record ofwildbelugafromthe1980s(Birstein,1993;Birst are composedentirelyofhatchery-raised fish,withthelast to belocallyextinct,andpopulationsintheSeaofAzov (USFWS, 2002). Populations in the Adriatic Sea are believed Caspian SeaandBlackSea,afewrivers intheseareas naturally reproducingpopulationsareonlyfoundinthe within thesewatersheds (Exhibit4;CITES, 2000).Today, Sea, BlackAdriaticSeaofAzov, andallrivers 68 68 Beluga sturgeonarealsoharvested from theBlackSea, The CaspianSeaisthelargestandmostimportantarea Historically, belugasturgeonwerefoundintheCaspian

copyright 2007byMapQuest.Usedwithpermission.) Caspian Sea.(TheMapQuestlogoisaregisteredtrademarkofMapQuest.Mapcontent Exhibit 4. JOURNAL OF NATURAL RESOURCES & LIFE SCIENCES EDUCATION SCIENCES LIFE & RESOURCES NATURAL OF JOURNAL BelugasturgeonareharvestedintheBlackSea,SeaofAzov,and - - - 1997; IUCN,2000). vulnerable inthelowerpartofriver (HenselandHolcik, reaches, criticallyendangeredinthemiddleand and Natural Resources (IUCN)asextirpatedfromtheupper by theInternationalUnionforConservation ofNature young. tation inthisareawouldnot allow forthesurvival ofher also madethetrek,pollution andincreasedsedimen Although hereggswouldbefertilized by males thathad her 190,000eggsonthefinesedimentabove thedam. bottom but,becausethatwas notavailable, shelaid area tolay hereggs.Shewouldhave preferredastony conditions today, andinstinct ledhertosearchforan resorb theireggs.Oursturgeonfoundseeminglysuitable tions thatarenotoptimalforspawning andthesturgeon do, thedamhasalteredupstreamwaters tocondi dams throughfishladders.Andoftentimeswhenthey studies showedthatfewsturgeonsuccessfullypassover dams totheirnatural spawning grounds.Shewas lucky; passage devicebuilttohelpanadromousfishpassover again. Shehadjustswam throughafishladder, afish ing ledover theobstruction,andwas soonintheriver which seemedtoheadupstream.Sheswam upit,be it. Thewater was comingfromanodd-shapedstructure, increasing flowandfollowedherinstincttoswimtoward to stop, blocked by agiantwall. To herleftshefeltan River. Sheswam forover 400kmuntiltheriver seemed ing sturgeonandbegantomake herway uptheVolga begin herspawning migration. Shejoinedothermigrat temperature ofthewater thattoldheritwas timeto The belugasturgeonfeltchangesintheflowand

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The poachers steamed along in their fast boat, fol The poachers steamed along in their fast she had already released them, this fish had been killed for nothing. Illegal fishing is a huge problem within the sturgeon lowing their global positioning system (GPS) to the exact lowing their global positioning system not net was location where they had set their net. The had mid-water detectable from the surface because it quickly workers floats to hide it from enforcers. The five they and began to pull in the net. The net felt heavy to see the large fish in the net. Due to the were excited Sea, they low numbers of sturgeon left in the Caspian could A female this size caught fish this size. rarely which could sell of caviar, produce around 5 kilograms on the regular market. for more than $5000/kilogram in the black market sold high, caviar If the demand was higher price. As they lifted her into could sell for an even her tail trying to get back into the the boat, she thrashed The poachers put her on the deck and sliced her water. had already released all empty—she belly open. It was a productive of her eggs. The poachers were not having sturgeon, which they had caught another night. Earlier, male. The female a of eggs because it was also void was the boat; her the side of thrown over sturgeon was of the price meat, which could only be sold for a fraction to be worth enough money would not provide of caviar, and, since the effort. Her eggs were what they wanted Heavy fishing has also contributed to the decline in contributed to the fishing has also Heavy allowed fishers to harvest limits have In the past, size overharvesting Another problem that contributes to the fisheries, with an estimated 50% of world trade being illegal being trade world of 50% estimated an with fisheries, demand and great reward 1998). There is a high (USFWS, for catching a single sturgeon, which can produce 12% of from females without dissection. Similarity between the from females without dissection. Similarity male sturgeon being mistakenly results in many sexes further which even caviar, killed during attempts to harvest of populations. reduces the viability years it has dropped back to pre-1977 levels. But the con But the levels. back to pre-1977 it has dropped years Caspian Sea ecosystem. are now part of the taminants such characteristics numbers. Life-history beluga sturgeon to sensitive sturgeon extremely make as late maturation and Lecointre, 1997; Billard (Birstein et al., overfishing to sexu 10 to 16 years sturgeon take 2001). Male beluga later in life, at age mature even ally mature, and females Billard and Lecointre, 2001). In 13 to 22 (Birstein, 1993; con River populations in the Volga the 1990s, spawning 17- to 21-year-old males and sisted of 11- to 18-year-old This suggests that although most females (Levin, 1997). age, they are living until reproductive beluga sturgeon are being once or twice before spawn probably only able to population effects of the negative accelerating harvested, ages. and younger at younger sturgeon being harvested mature. It is beluga sturgeon before they were sexually of mature at a size estimated that beluga sturgeon sexually size However, 160 to 200 cm (Billard and Lecointre, 2001). of the beluga sturgeon have limits throughout the range of the take been set as low as 140 to 180 cm, permitting 2002). (USFWS, spawned had not yet fish that sub-adult external sexual of sturgeon is that this species shows no be distinguished dimorphism, meaning that males cannot ------

Between 1977 and 1995, the Caspian Sea began to rise Natural conditions, such as the rise and fall of sea level sea level conditions, such as the rise and fall of Natural Besides blocking access to spawning habitat, dams also Besides blocking access to spawning Beluga sturgeon spend most of their lives in large bodies of their lives spend most Beluga sturgeon JOURNAL OF NATURAL RESOURCES & LIFE SCIENCES EDUCATION nation showed high levels of heavy metals and pesticides of heavy nation showed high levels et al., and muscles (Khodorevskaya in their gonads, liver, of the 2003). After 1995, the level et al., 1997; Kajiwara Caspian Sea began to drop again, and during the past 10 many fish kills, including one in 1988 that resulted in thou fish kills, including one in many sands of tons of dead sturgeon (Dumont, 1995; Shagaeva the contami 1993). Sturgeon that were not killed by et al., by iron, copper, and zinc from steel mills and mining opera iron, copper, by and pesticides from surrounding farms tions and fertilizers shown that these pollut 2000). Studies have (Secor et al., chemicals led to metals, and toxic ants, pesticides, heavy Caspian Sea, collected heavy metals such as copper and metals Caspian Sea, collected heavy molybdenum from mining and industrial areas along its contaminated became River bank (Dumont, 1995). The Ural again, engulfing polluted land (Dumont, 1995). Contamina a result of in Azerbaijan, increased as oil lakes tion levels by and lack of maintenance, were covered oil extraction feeding the River, (Dumont, 1995). The Kura rising water the growth of beluga sturgeon (Khodorevskaya et al., 1995, et al., the growth of beluga sturgeon (Khodorevskaya 1997). more than 3 meters by 1977 (Dumont, 1995; Khodorevs more than 3 meters by 1995, 1997; Kroonenberg, 2005). This lower et al., kaya Ecological an increase in salinity. caused ing in sea level reduced, decreasing conditions shifted and food supply was sea is known to follow cyclical rise and fall patterns, possi sea is known to follow cyclical change (Dumont, bly a result of tectonic forcing and climate 1929 and dropped 1995). The Caspian Sea began to fall in unsuitable habitat for egg survival. stocks also influenced sturgeon in the Caspian Sea, have 1995, 1997). This et al., (Dumont, 1995; Khodorevskaya dams can also alter these conditions by regulating the tem dams can also alter these conditions by Increases in flow can and flow of released water. perature creating the water, also increase the amount of sediment in decline in natural reproduction. Sturgeon use environmental Sturgeon use environmental reproduction. decline in natural as cues to and flow, temperature conditions, such as water 1997; time (Beamesderfer and Farr, ideal spawning identify 1993a). Hydroelectric 1984 cited in Raspopov, Vlasenko, (Secor et al., 2000). (Secor et al., to a further leading altered cues that trigger spawning, have impacted 90% of beluga sturgeon breeding grounds 90% of beluga sturgeon breeding grounds impacted have fish passage 1995). On some dams, et al., (Barannikova to allow passage to spawning devices were constructed devices failed to engineer effective sites, but most attempts from critical spawning habitat and leading to a decrease habitat and leading from critical spawning 1997). It is et al., reproduction (Khodorevskaya in natural to the Caspian Sea leading on rivers estimated that dams 2001). When it is time to spawn, the anadromous sturgeon to spawn, 2001). When it is time to fresh areas and swim upstream these brackish leave dams were built In the 1950s, hydroelectric rivers. water blocking sturgeon rivers, these freshwater of on many of brackish water, such as the Caspian Sea, the Black Sea, Sea, the Black Sea, such as the Caspian water, of brackish fishes, crus they feed on small where Azov, and Sea of Lecointre, 2000; Billard and worms (CITES, taceans, and Reasons for the Decline of Beluga for the Decline Reasons Sturgeon articles began todecreasewiththedissolution oftheSoviet Union. increased (USFWS, 2002). illegal harvest, large-scalepoaching,and illegaltrade have due tothelackofcooperation amongcountries;asaresult makers, 2002).Organized enforcementhas been difficult extremely regulated,notallregulationsareenforced(Ray allow fishingintheCaspianSeasay thatdomestictrade is once again(USFWS, 2002).Althoughmany statesthat Caspian Seasignedanagreementprohibitingseafishing was alloweduntil1996,whenthecountriesbordering jan, Kazakhstan, and theRussian Federation. Seafishing divided amongthenewlyindependentcountriesofAzerbai management issuesbegantoariseasfishingrightswere sturgeon fryeachyear (CITES, 2000). hatcheries werereleasinganaverage of800,000beluga and Raymakers, 2001).Bytheendof1980s,these throughout theCaspianBasin(Secoretal., 2000;Vaisman ing 10sturgeonhatcheriesontheVolga River and5others to maintain spawning stocks for commercial harvests, build 2001). TheformerSoviet Unioncreatedstockingprograms dam construction(CITES, 2000;Vaisman andRaymakers, pensate forthedeclineinnatural reproductiondueto 2000). Raymakers, 1996;Khodorevskaya etal., 2000;Secor etal., seasonal closuresandgearrestrictions(DeMeulenaer the CaspianSeawas alsotightlyregulatedwithcatchand (Barannikova etal., 1995).Harvest fromrivers leadingto size ofadultfish,andcaviar productionfromindividuals could reachsexualmaturity, increasingthenumberand nikova etal., 1995;Khodorevskaya etal., 1997).Juveniles feed intheCaspianSeawithoutharvest pressure(Baran in thelowerreachesofVolga River, allowingsturgeonto 2000). Abanonseaharvest in1962concentrated fishing the years (Barannikova etal., 1995;Khodorevskaya etal., Sea beganinthe1950sandregulationshave varied over Sturgeon Management catch (Pikitchetal., 2005). is even higher:19to29timesmorethanthereported ers, 2001).IntheBlackSeaandofAzov, illegalcatch to be6,70010,640tonsperyear (Vaisman andRaymak USFWS, 2004).Theillegalharvest inthisareaisestimated area (Speeretal., 2000;Vaisman andRaymakers, 2001; to be610timeshigherthanthelegalcatchinthis serious issue.IllegalcatchintheCaspianSeaisthought ers, 2002). avoid newmeasuresofenforcementandcontrol(Raymak as GPSandfasterboats,allowpoacherstoeasilyadapt stocks, itisamuchlargerproblemtoday. Technology, such but withadvancements ofmoderntechnologyanddeclining fisher (Raymakers, 2002).Poaching hasalways occurred, vessel andalmost10timesgreaterthanthatofalegal three timesgreaterthanthatofacaptainlegalfishing The payoff isalsohigh;theincomeofillegalfisherscanbe its weightincaviar (DeMeulenaerandRaymakers, 1996). 70 70 Stocking programs thathadbeen implementedalso With thedissolutionofSoviet Unionin1991, Stocking programs werecreatedinthe1960stocom Management ofsturgeonfisherieswithintheCaspian Illegal catchandtrade ofbelugasturgeoncaviar isa

JOURNAL OF NATURAL RESOURCES & LIFE SCIENCES EDUCATION SCIENCES LIFE & RESOURCES NATURAL OF JOURNAL ------(Raymakers, 2002).Reducing belugasturgeon quotasor Sea, decreasingthecatchperuniteffortofthesefishers in otherfisheriestoprotectyoung sturgeonintheCaspian tions have beenplacedonfishingmethodsandgearsused sturgeon may beaffectedby regulationsaswell.Restric ers, 2002).Otherfisheriesthatdonoteven harvest beluga and exportimportcompaniesoutofbusiness(Raymak regulations have putmany fishers,fishprocessingplants, many jobs.Decreasingsturgeonpopulationsandincreased closure ofhatcheriesinthe1990sresultedloss nomic impactsonimportingandexportingcountries.The 1997). number ofbroodstockforhatcherybreeding(Birsteinetal., also becausehatcheriescouldnotalways catchasufficient ing was notonlyduetothelackoffundsathatcheries,but the lackofnatural reproduction.Thisdecreaseinstock of young fishreleasedandaninability tocompensatefor et al., 2000).Thiscausedasevere declineinthenumber remained openthroughouttheVolga River region(Secor support and,by 1996,onlyseven oftheoriginalhatcheries 2002). Theaginghatcheryinfrastructure lacked substantial priorities (DeMeulenaerandRaymakers, 1996;USFWS, to develop independenteconomies,oftenwithdiffering many hatcheriestobeshutdownasthenewnationstried By themid-1990smanagementfundingdwindled,causing have made commitments todevelop aninternationally the fishery(USFWS, 2002). requirements arenotmet,a ban ontrade canbeplacedon was notdetrimentaltothesurvival ofthespecies.If if thespecimensarelegallyacquiredandtheirharvest nied by anexportpermit.Thesepermitsareonlyissued sturgeon, includingallpartsandproducts,tobeaccompa Appendix 2ofCITES, requiringallspecimensofbeluga exploitation. In1998,thebelugasturgeonwas listedunder animals andplantsthatmay beatriskduetocommercial CITES was developed tomonitorandregulate trade ofwild vest ofbelugasturgeonby restrictingandregulatingtrade. cies ofWildFauna andFlora (CITES)alsocontrolsthehar (Shepherd, 2006). years duetoconcernsaboutdecreasingpopulationsizes exporters, closeditscommercialfisheryforthenext10 2005). InJune2006,Romania, oneofthetopbelugacaviar monopolies (CITES, 2000;USFWS, 2002;Pikitchetal., private sturgeonfisheries,allowingonlystate-controlled fishing altogether, andIran andTurkmenistan prohibit all USFWS, 2002).Moldova andtheUkraine prohibitsturgeon limits toregulatecatches(Vaisman andRaymakers, 2001; some proscribegear, catch,seasonalrestrictions,andsize countries. Mostrequireacommercialfishinglicense,and are managedandregulatedby individualCaspianSea The DecisionMakers line ofwork. have theskillsorexperiencetosimplyswitchanother in many fishingcommunitiesbecausemany workers donot closing thefisherymay causeariseinunemployment levels Management ofthesturgeonfisherycanhave greateco Through CITES, five stateswithintheCaspianSeabasin Convention onInternationalTrade inEndangeredSpe The CaspianSeaStates. Belugasturgeoncatches

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Encourage students to research the life Encourage Researchers. The goal of this case is to provide students with a students The goal of this case is to provide ecology, to be used in biology, developed This case was students can be divided After reading the case study, Researchers have identified reasons for the decline of identified have Researchers and additional references are provided for each part. and additional references are provided of beluga sturgeon (or other stur history characteristics make geon species) and discuss how these characteristics the students graph Have sturgeon prone to overfishing. what age age–length relationship for beluga sturgeon. At better understanding of the difficulty of managing natural natural of managing better understanding of the difficulty After discussing resources, specifically beluga sturgeon. gained a better understanding this case, students will have resources, natural of the complicated process of managing efficient decision expanded their critical thinking skills for experience in making on a global ecological issue, gained managers, fish resolving conflict between groups (e.g., about how natural ers, consumers) with differing opinions of an awareness resources should be managed, and gained steps that are being the decline of beluga sturgeon and the recovery. to allow its taken Uses of This Case resource sustainability fisheries management, or natural courses. Before students read and discuss this case, the of the case. an overview to provide want instructor may (NPR) on the National Public Radio clips are available Radio website, describing the decline of beluga sturgeon in the section). Instruc Resources” Caspian Sea (see “Additional paper classic the read to students ask to want also may tors of the Commons” (see “Additional G. Hardin: “Tragedy by section). Resources” up into groups and each group can be assigned a part for simulation. Group members will work together a role-play discussion points to research their particular role. Pertinent decision on beluga sturgeon trade in order to allow export to allow export in order beluga sturgeon trade decision on missing information provide to an opportunity countries (CITES, sturgeon catches of beluga sustainability about the and re-opened CITES set quotas later, 2007). A month and for 2007 (Roberson the beluga sturgeon of the trade 2007). Crownover, to been taken and some actions have the beluga sturgeon of beluga sturgeon. However, protect remaining populations seem to be rebounding. Crucial data populations do not plans are management create effective that are needed to habitat block essential spawning still lacking. Dams still cues. Illegal fishing still per and alter sturgeon spawning the Caspian Sea. Consum throughout sists in high levels both the legal and illegal driving ers still demand caviar, that these are just a few of the problems And, markets. populations. The road to recovery hinder beluga sturgeon However, for beluga sturgeon is one of great complexity. problem parties entangled in this complicated if the many it to work together, understand its urgency and are willing populations to be possible to allow beluga sturgeon may successfully recover. Note Teaching Case Goals and Objectives ------The European Union, Japan, The European Union, Consumer demand largely controls the Consumer demand largely controls the In January 2007, CITES set the quotas for the year. In January 2007, CITES set the quotas for the year. Due to the decline in sturgeon populations, CITES Consumers. Importing Countries. JOURNAL OF NATURAL RESOURCES & LIFE SCIENCES EDUCATION sian, and stellate sturgeon species; CITES postponed the Russian Federation would be permitted to trade a total of a total of would be permitted to trade Federation Russian 2007). in 2007 (CITES, 86 tons of wild sturgeon caviar Per of Russian, trade the quota only allowed the However, plans could show that harvests were sustainable (Chivers, were sustainable (Chivers, plans could show that harvests 2006). and the Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Iran, Azerbaijan, caviar was Iran, with a quota of 45,000 kg of Persian stur with a quota of 45,000 kg of Persian Iran, was caviar for 2006). The suspension on trade (Chivers, geon caviar all other countries would be lifted in 2007 if management banned international trade of all wild sturgeon caviar from sturgeon caviar of all wild banned international trade the Caspian Sea basin, the Black Sea–lower Danube River 2006; basin for 2006 (Chivers, basin, and the Amur River allowed to export 2006). The only country that was Raloff, business. The Decision sustainable. If consumers only buy caviar from stocks that sustainable. If consumers only buy caviar countries will be are properly managed, then Caspian Sea will lose or they forced to change management strategies geon harvest and trade. When demand is high, pressure for When demand is high, pressure and trade. geon harvest consum and illegal fishing will increase. By educating trade stocks, demand ers about the decline of beluga sturgeon that are more be reduced or shifted to sturgeon stocks may ban on sturgeon was enacted in September 2005. enacted in September ban on sturgeon was stur influencing the regulation of beluga heavily market, trade would motivate exporting countries to create fishery exporting countries to create fishery would motivate trade exporting 2005). However, (USFWS, management programs detail countries did not submit the required documentation plans, so an importation ing their sturgeon conservation believed the conservation measures created by CITES measures created by the conservation believed for protecting Caspian Sea and Black could be effective that continuing to Sea sturgeon if fully implemented, and U.S. allowed trade under a special rule (Section 4d under under a special rule (Section 4d under allowed trade U.S. that with exporting countries permitting trade the ESA) annual reports, and submitted written management plans, The USFWS 2005). (USFWS, copies of national fishing laws public comment periods, the beluga sturgeon was listed as was public comment periods, the beluga sturgeon Usually this would prohibit threatened throughout its range. in March 2005 the all import of this species. However, stocks. In December 2000, a petition was filed with the 2000, a petition was stocks. In December Wildlife Service (USFWS) to list United States Fish and as an endangered species under the the beluga sturgeon and delays many After Act (ESA). Endangered Species importing about 95% of caviar (Raymakers and Hoover, and Hoover, (Raymakers of caviar importing about 95% efforts conservation of caviar, 2002). As primary importers sturgeon countries can greatly influence beluga these by of Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and the Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Iran, of Azerbaijan, Federation. Russian States dominate global trade, and the United Switzerland, Bio-resources of the Caspian Sea was created to coordinate created to coordinate Sea was of the Caspian Bio-resources This com of sturgeon stocks. and monitoring management the states export quotas for annual catch and mission sets accepted stock assessment program and to develop an and to develop assessment program accepted stock quotas catch and export method for deriving acceptable Aquatic Commission on monitoring data. The from stock articles ers arenotaware thattheproducttheyarebuyingisbeing illegal harvest ofbelugasturgeon.Inmany casesconsum ers (2002). sate workers afterfisheryclosures andreferenceRaymak in theUnitedStatesthathave beendeveloped tocompen stopped? Studentsmay want tosearchonline forprograms of belugasturgeonpopulations?Howcanillegalfishingbe stop orreducefishingiftheyunderstoodthecurrentstatus sate fishers?Doyou thinkmostfisherswouldbewillingto the fisheryisclosed.Whoshouldpay totrain orcompen provide financialstability tofishersifquotasareloweredor switch toanotherlineofwork.Createaprogram thatwill Some workers may nothave theskillsandexperienceto ing plants,andexportcompaniesmay gooutofbusiness. and Williotetal.(2002). may want toreferenceBillardandLecointre(2001,p. 361) Students withthepartofpowerplantadministrator mous fishes(includingAtlantic andshortnosesturgeon). United Stateshave reducednegative effectsonanadro dents may want tosearchonlineforways damsinthe plants toinstallnewadvances toprotectsturgeon?Stu suitable forsturgeonspawning? Isiteconomicalforpower Can water bereleasedinaway thatprovides conditions while stillproviding energytosurroundingcommunities? fishes. Candamsbemodifiedtoecologicallyfriendly hydroelectric damsthatreducetheirnegative effectson natural spawning cues.Studentswillresearchadvances in the movement ofsturgeontobreedinggroundsandalter rounding communities.However, theyalsocanimpede on rivers flowingtotheCaspianSeasupplyenergy tosur (2002). et al.(2000),BillardandLecointre(2001),Williot acting ashatcherymanagersmay want toreferenceSecor and develop aplantoimprove futureactions.Students Hatchery managersshouldevaluate thehatcheryprocess hatcheries canonlyobtainalimitednumberofbroodstock? be improved? Howwillgeneticdiversity bepreserved if rebuilding sturgeonpopulations?Howcanhatcheryefforts is unknown.Isthereevidencethatstockingprograms are tribution ofhatchery-raised fishtothecurrentpopulation It isthoughtthatstockinghasbeeneffective butthecon process, fromobtainingbroodstocktoreleasingyoung fish. pian andBlackSeas.Have studentsdiscussthehatchery learn moreaboutsturgeonstockingprograms intheCas (2007) foradditionalinformation. and Farr (1997),BillardandLecointre(2001)FishBase want toreferenceRaspopov (1993a,1993b),Beamesderfer of belugasturgeon?Studentsactingasresearchersmay be includedinamanagementplantoallowtherecovery lations? Whattypes ofrestrictionsandregulationsshould done toreducenegative impactstobelugasturgeonpopu do damsinfluencetheirspawning cues?Cananything be have onthespawning migration ofanadromousfishes.How are harvested? Have studentsresearchtheeffectthatdams regulations allowbelugasturgeontoreproducebeforethey or lengtharebelugasturgeonsexuallymature?Docurrent 72 72 Consumers. Fishers. Hydroelectric PowerPlantAdministrators. Hatchery Manager.

Asquotasarelowered,fishers,fish-process Thedemandforcaviar drives thelegal and JOURNAL OF NATURAL RESOURCES & LIFE SCIENCES EDUCATION SCIENCES LIFE & RESOURCES NATURAL OF JOURNAL Studentsinthisrolewillwant to Dams ------dents canbeasked toanswerthediscussionquestions. sturgeon thatallpartiesagreeon.Afterthisactivity, stu should thenworktocreateamanagementplanforbeluga moderator asgroupsdiscusseachpointofview. Students canalsobeaddedtoserveof a“fisheriesmanager” asa share whattheyhave learnedwiththeentireclass.Arole the discussionpoints,have thegroupscometogetherto After eachgrouphasresearchedtheirpartandtalked about Caviar Emptor(non-profitorganization),USFWS, orCITES. can beadded.Theseincluderepresentatives from (2007). Bay AquariumSeafoodWatch (2007)andCaviar Emptor the partofconsumersmay want toreferenceMonterey cation programs (e.g., dolphin-safetuna).Studentsplaying (e.g., aquaculturedsturgeon,paddlefishcaviar) andcertifi want tosearchonlineforalternatives tosturgeoncaviar these alternatives have ontheenvironment? Studentsmay beluga sturgeoncaviar? Whatarethenegative effectsthat caviar? Whataresomealternatives tobuyingwild-caught populations andalternative productstobelugasturgeon consumers aboutthecurrentstatusofbelugasturgeon What type ofcampaigncouldbedeveloped toeducate beluga sturgeoncaviar iftheywereaware oftheproblem? overfished. Doyou thinkconsumerswouldstopbuying tions setby CITES, thenthe countries’exportquotasmay a crucialrole;ifexportingcountries donotfollowregula management strategies orstockstatus.CITESalsoplays to importproductsfromothercountriesbasedontheir sturgeon fisheryisregulated.Thesecountriescanrefuse countries alsoplays animportantpartinhowthebeluga vest regulationsatall.Consumerdemandfromimporting by enforcingcatchand size limits, orby having nohar sturgeon have thepowertoregulatetheirownresources are regulated.Countriesthatharvest andexportbeluga makers thatinfluencehowbeluga sturgeonpopulations fishery isregulated?Why? have themostinfluenceonhowbelugasturgeon influencers inthiscase?Whichdoyouthinkshould Discussion Questions Environment: Caviar exportshaltedtoprotectsturgeon.3 Nation: U.S. may banimportsofbelugacaviar. 5Dec. Beluga Caviar Trade. Allthingsconsidered.15Mar. 2002. Radio clipsfromNationalPublicRadio (www.npr.org; veri www.cites.org (verified 12June2007).Convention on www.caviaremptor.org (verified 12June2007).Caviar www.caspianenvironment.org/newsite/index.htm (verified Hardin, G.1968.Tragedy ofthecommons.Science Additional Resources Depending onthesize oftheclass,otherrole-play parts 1. Whoarethemajordecisionmakersand Sept. 2004.MorningEdition. 2002. MorningEdition. fied 12June2007): Fauna andFlora (CITES). International Trade inEndangered SpeciesofWild emptor: ThedeclineoftheCaspianSeaSturgeon. 12 June2007).CaspianEnvironment Programme. 162(3859):1243–1248. Therearemany decision

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This question will encourage students to think This question will encourage Consumer demand may be shifted to aquacultured Consumer demand may 6. The banning of beluga sturgeon harvest and/or 6. The banning of beluga sturgeon 7. The black market (the sale of illegal products) is 5. Do you think that a management plan will allow plan will think that a management 5. Do you ery? neither of products or other sturgeon stocks. However, affect these is a simple solution. Aquaculture can negatively and disease. Shifting through pollution the environment pres demand to other sturgeon stocks will increase harvest A better approach sure and could reduce population sizes. management plan will be able to save the beluga sturgeon the beluga management plan will be able to save the interna from extinction. Some scientists recommend should be stopped of beluga sturgeon caviar tional trade suggesting that CITES ban all international immediately, 2000). of the beluga sturgeon (Speer et al., trade on some par trade will have negative consequences fishers get their ties. If fishing is banned, where will to other stur income? If the demand for caviar shifts managers protect geon or paddlefish stocks, how will these fish? Students fishery. about the consequences of closing the will affect other should discuss how a closure of the fishery that rely on the sale parties, such as fishers and businesses In some fisheries, financial aid of beluga sturgeon caviar. come from the states to compensate for the closure may the not have some countries may However, of the fishery. funds to support fishers and businesses. Without com other commercially fished harvest pensation, fishers may income. This could shift sturgeon or fish illegally to provide to other stocks of sturgeon that are the demand for caviar decline of these not currently managed, leading to a rapid populations. a serious problem for declining sturgeon populations and seems to be driven by consumer demand. How can the demand from consumers be reduced? Do you think a certification program would work in this fish ated (Billard and Lecointre, 2001). In the case of beluga In the case of and Lecointre, 2001). ated (Billard below levels fall dangerously populations may sturgeon, that long time rebound in they can effectively from which be well- plans must of this, management span. Because constantly re-evaluated. planned and sturgeon? Or, should harvest the recovery of beluga all together? and trade be banned that may plans and discuss flaws discuss their management that realize of the population. They should recovery prevent to lack of funding or not be possible due some ideas may This question is one that is between countries. cooperation beluga sturgeon pop to CITES, highly debatable. According estimate In 2002, the population ulations are recovering. increasing 11.6 million individuals, was in the Caspian Sea some 2003). However, (Pearce, from 7.6 million in 1998 of these numbers, including the organizations are skeptical Institute for Ocean Defense Council, Pew National Resource These three organizations compose Science, and SeaWeb. the beluga a campaign created to save Emptor, Caviar catch data, they sturgeon from extinction. When examining (for a better understanding of in calculations found flaws to want may the miscalculations, instructors and students sci 2003). After re-examining the data, refer to Pearce, than half a million entists estimated the population to less researchers do not feel as though any 2003). Many (Pearce, ------

- - - - Now that Now that students have discussed the major deci Now that students have One important point that was not discussed in the text One important point that was 4. Devise a management plan to allow the recovery the allow to plan management a Devise 4. 3. In your opinion, what are the major prob 3. In your opinion, what are the major 2. What factors have led to the decline of beluga 2. What factors have JOURNAL OF NATURAL RESOURCES & LIFE SCIENCES EDUCATION plans may take 10 to 20 years until they can be fully evalu until they 10 to 20 years take plans may is the importance of long-term monitoring of management plans. Due to the long lifespan of sturgeons, management public awareness will also put pressure on companies to will also put pressure public awareness There are stop importing and selling beluga sturgeon caviar. management plan for options to creating an effective many beluga sturgeon. duction by restricting harvest of immature sturgeon and of restricting harvest duction by increase consumer may grounds. Some spawning improving Increasing education to reduce the demand for caviar. management plans and try to improve weaknesses in these management plans and try to improve the reduce that plans new develop may Students strategies. pressure on wild stock with restrictions on fishing gears and repro increase natural choose to seasons. Others may sion makers, factors that resulted in the decline of the fish factors that resulted sion makers, they will work to management strategies, and current ery, of beluga a management plan to allow the recovery develop sturgeon in the Caspian Sea. Students can examine current ages, or sexes of fish; or encourage countries to work ages, or sexes of fish; or encourage within shared together for consistent management waters. regulations, and catch limits) to manage the same stock. regulations, and catch limits) to manage include ideas to of beluga sturgeon. Your plan may certain sizes, increase natural reproduction; protect rent management is the fishery is not being managed as rent management is the fishery is not from the same seas have a whole. Countries that harvest seasons, size different fishing different regulations (e.g., ways that decision makers are trying to counter the effects are trying to counter the that decision makers ways import/export regulations, fishing of these factors (e.g., devices). fish, fish passage regulations, stocking of young scientists think that the major problem with cur Many lems with current management strategies? the thought about the factors that caused students have them research have decline of beluga sturgeon populations, vary among states fishing the same waters. Who is respon among states fishing the same waters. vary and enforcing regula for, paying of, track sible for keeping tions? the Caspian Sea, be controlled? If managers lower quotas, the Caspian Sea, be controlled? If managers that fishing rights where will fishers get their income? Now and regulations are divided among new countries, rules factors that have led to the decline of beluga sturgeon may may led to the decline of beluga sturgeon factors that have example, if dams think. For one may not be as simple as get elec where will surrounding communities are removed, and fall of such as the rise event, How can a natural tricity? Which of these factors can be controlled, and how? Which of these factors the factors discussed in the case study Students should list these factors in depth. Controlling the and discuss each of information on CITES, visit the CITES website listed in the visit information on CITES, section. Resources” “Additional the Caspian and Black Seas? sturgeon stocks in tional trade. CITES does not take the place of national laws; laws; place of national the does not take CITES tional trade. to ensure their own laws countries must create participating more For at a national level. is being followed that CITES be reduced. However, adhering to the CITES agreement the CITES agreement adhering to However, be reduced. are legally joined CITES have Countries that is voluntary. interna regulations concerning convention’s bound to the articles FishBase. 2007.Husohuso:Beluga. Available atwww.fish Dumont, H.1995.EcocideintheCaspianSea.Nature DeMeulenaer, T., andC.Raymakers. 1996.Sturgeonsofthe CITES. 2000.Acipenseriformes.DocumentAC.16.7.2.16th CITES. 2007.Pressrelease:Following 2006ban,CITES Chivers, C.J. 2006.Caviar banisextendedinmuchofCas Caviar Emptor. 2007.Roe to ruin:Americancaviar: Aneco- Birstein, V.J. 1993.Sturgeonsandpaddlefishes:Threat Birstein, V.J., W.E. Bemis,andJ.R. Waldman. 1997.The Billard, R., andG.Lecointre.2001.Biologyconserva Beamesderfer, R.C.P., andR.A.Farr. 1997.Alternatives for Barannikova, I.A., I.A.Burtsev, A.D. Vlasenko, A.D. Gersha Al-Holy, M.A., andB.A. Rasco. 2006.Characterization of References the manuscriptandproviding editorialcomments. to M.Davis, R.Leaf, B. Ray, andT. Savelyeva forreviewing improved thiscasestudy. Specialthanksarealsoextended reviewers fortheirinsightfulcommentsthatgreatly the Pew InstituteofOceanScience,andtwoanonymous Acknowledgments products. populations, theymay bepersuadedtoonlybuycertified By educatingthepublicaboutdecreasingbelugasturgeon are managingtheirfisheryforlong-termsustainability. products thatareharvested fromfisheriesorcountriesthat some markets, programs have beendeveloped to“certify” about thecurrentstatusofbelugasturgeonpopulations.In to reducingconsumerdemandcanbeincreasingeducation 74 74 Sincere appreciationisexpressedtoP. Doukakis,from

FishBase Makati,Philippines. base.org (accessedDec.2005; verified 11June 207). 377:673–674. in Caviar. p. 1–71.TRAFFICInt., Cambridge. Caspian Seaandinvestigation oftheinternationaltrade 2000. CITES, Shepardstown,USA. meeting oftheCITESAnimalsCommittee.11–15Dec. Switzerland. Jan. 2007;verified 11June2007).CITES, Geneva, except beluga.Available atwww.cites.org (accessed authorizes 2007quotasforallCaspianSeacaviar pian Sea.TheNewYork Times.13April2006. June 2007).Caviar Emptor. www.caviaremptor.org (accessedMay 2007;verified 11 friendly way tocelebrate specialoccasions.Available at 7:773–787. ened fishesinneedofconservation. Conserv. Biol. mary. Environ. Biol.Fishes48:427–435. threatened statusofAcipenseriformesspecies:asum 10:355–392. tion ofsturgeonandpaddlefish.Rev. FishBiol.Fish. habitat. Environ. Biol.Fishes48:407–417. the protectionandrestoration ofsturgeonsandtheir Sept. 1993.VNIROPubl., Moscow, Russia. on Sturgeon,Moscow–Kostroma–Moscow, Russia. 6–11 Russia. p. 124–130.InProc.oftheSecondInt.Symp. novich, andM.S. Chebanov. 1995. Sturgeonfisheriesin 30:422–428. transmontanus) caviar proteins.J. Food Biochem. salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) andsturgeon(Acipenser JOURNAL OF NATURAL RESOURCES & LIFE SCIENCES EDUCATION SCIENCES LIFE & RESOURCES NATURAL OF JOURNAL ------Kroonenberg, S.B. 2005.Rapid CaspianSealevel change, Khodorevskaya, R.P., G.F. Dovgopol, andO.L. Zhuravleva. Khodorevskaya, R.P., G.F. Dovgopol, O.L. Zhuravleva, and Khodorevskaya, R.P., E.V. Krasikov, G.F. Dovgopol, and Kajiwara, N., D. Ueno, I.Monirith,S. Tanabe, M.Pour IUCN (TheWorld Conservation Union).2000.2000IUCN Hensel, K., andJ. Holcik.1997.Past andcurrentstatusof Raymakers, C.2002.Studyonthesocialandeconomic Raspopov, V.M. 1993b. Growthrate ofCaspianSeaBeluga. Raspopov, V.M. 1993a.Age structure andpopulation Raloff, J. 2006.Caviar caveats. ScienceNews169(9). Pikitch, E.K., P. Doukakis,L.Lauck,P. Chakraharty, and Pearce, F. 2003.‘Miscalculation’couldmeantheendof Monterey Bay Aquarium.2007.Seafoodwatch. Available at Levin, A.V. 1997.Thedistributionandmigration ofstur Russia. 6–11 Sept. 1993. VNIRO Publ., Moscow, Russia. Int. Symp. onSturgeon,Moscow–Kostroma–Moscow, dae) stocks.p. 137–150.InProceedingsoftheSecond 1995. Formation ofcommercialsturgeon(Acipenseri Biol. Fishes48:209–219. stocks ofsturgeonsintheCaspianSeabasin.Environ. A.D. Vlasenko. 1997.Presentstatusofcommercial Ichthyol. 40:602–609. Caspian Acipenseridsunderpresent-day conditions.J. O.L. Zhuravleva. 2000.Formation ofthestock 46:741–747. Caspian Seaduring2001and2002.Mar. Pollut. Bull. organochlorine compoundsinsturgeonsfromthe kazemi, andD.G. Aubrey. 2003.Contaminationby UK. Aug. 2006;verified 11June2007).IUCN,Cambridge, Huso huso. Available atwww.iucnredlist.org (accessed Red Listofthreatenedanimals:SpeciesInformation: ron. Biol.Fishes48:185–200. sturgeons intheupperandmiddleDanubeRiver. Envi 2007). Traffic Europe,Brussels,England. gal_fishing.pdf (accessedJune 2006;verified 11June at http://enrin.grida.no/caspian/additional_info/ille aspects ofillegalfishinginthe CaspianSea.Available J. Ichthyol. 33:72–84. Volga. J. Ichthyol. 33:105–112. dynamics oftheBeluga,Husohuso, Migrating intothe Service, Washington, DC. (accessed Apr. 2007;verified 11June2007).Science 4 Mar. 2006.Available atwww.sciencenews.org 6:233–265. ment ofsturgeonandpaddlefishfisheries.FishFish. D.L. Erickson.2005.Status,trends,andmanage caviar. NewScientist.17Sept.2003. Monterey, CA. 2007; verified 11June2007).MontereyBay Aquarium, www.mbayaq.org/cr/seafoodwatch.asp (accessedMay Bonn. shop, Bonn.9–10Oct.1995.IUCN,Gland,Cambridge, Proc. oftheSturgeonStocksandCaviar Trade Work al. (ed.)SturgeonstocksandCaviar Trade Workshop. geons intheCaspianSea.p. 13–20.InV.J. Birsteinet Canada. verified 11June2007).Atlas Conferences,Toronto, http://atlas-conferences.com (accessedAug. 2006; responses, Cumo, Italy. 6–10Sept.2005.Available at meeting, darknature—rapid natural changeandhuman and howtopreparefornature’s trendbreaks.Final

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- - - - tion and Broodstock Management. Int. Rev. Hydrobiol. Hydrobiol. tion and Broodstock Management. Int. Rev. 87:483–506. protect imperiled sturgeon. 25 Mar. 1998. Available at 1998. Available protect imperiled sturgeon. 25 Mar. 11 June (accessed July 2005; verified www.fws.gov DC. Washington, 2007). USFWS, TRAFFIC Bull. Federation. geon fisheries in the Russian 19:33–44. as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. as threatened under the U.S. (accessed July at www.fws.gov 2004. Available 4 Apr. Washington, June 2007). USFWS, 11 2005; verified DC. huso) as plants: listing the beluga sturgeon (Huso 67:49657–49665. Regist. endangered. Fed. Sea and the road to recovery. Available at www.cavi Available Sea and the road to recovery. 2006; verified (accessed Aug. aremptor.org/report.html Emptor. 11 June 2007). Caviar of threatened beluga plants; special rule to the trade 70(42):10493– Regist. sturgeon (Huso huso). Fed. 10507. ICPDR (Int. Commission for the Protection of the ICPDR (Int. Commission 2006. Available Feb. Danube watch. Danube River): at www.icpdr.org/icpdr-pages/dw0602_p_08.htm 11 June 2007). ICPDR verified 2007; (accessed Apr. Secretariat, Vienna, Austria. the Caspian Spruill. 2000. The decline of sturgeon in Restoration of sturgeons: lessons from the Caspian Sea of sturgeons: lessons from Restoration Fish Fish. 1:215–230. programme. sturgeon ranching of of the early ontogeny 1993. A study Nikolskaya. (Acipenseridae) subjected to human sturgeon Volga 33:23–41. Ichthyol. J. activity. CITES implementation from Range States to consumer States to consumer from Range CITES implementation 18:629–638. Appl. Ichthyol. J. countries. despite international resumed trade Beluga caviar at www.pewoceanscience.org Available objection. Insti June 2007). Pew 11 2007; verified (accessed Apr. York. New tute for Ocean Research, JOURNAL OF NATURAL RESOURCES & LIFE SCIENCES EDUCATION Williot, P., G. Arlati, M. Chebanov, et al. 2002. Conserva G. Arlati, M. Chebanov, Williot, P., Vaisman, A., and C. Raymakers. 2001. Legal status of stur 2001. Legal status and C. Raymakers. A., Vaisman, USFWS. 1998. News release: New caviar import measures import 1998. News release: New caviar USFWS. USFWS. 2002. Endangered and threatened wildlife and USFWS. USFWS. 2004. News release: Beluga sturgeon are listed USFWS. USFWS. 2005. Endangered and threatened wildlife and USFWS. Speer, L., L. Lauck, E. Pikitch, S. Boa, L. Dropkin, and V. V. Boa, L. Dropkin, and Pikitch, S. L. Lauck, E. L., Speer, Shepherd, K. 2006. Romania bans fishing for ten years. bans fishing for ten years. Romania Shepherd, K. 2006. Shagaeva, V.G., M.P. Nokolskay, N.V. Akimova, and N.G. Akimova, N.V. Nokolskay, M.P. V.G., Shagaeva, Secor, D.H., V. Arefiev, A. Nikolaev, and A. Sharov. 2000. and A. Sharov. A. Nikolaev, Arefiev, V. D.H., Secor, Roberson, J., and S. Crownover. 2007. Press release: 2007. Crownover. and S. J., Roberson, Raymakers, C., and C. Hoover. 2002. Acipenseriformes: 2002. Acipenseriformes: and C. Hoover. C., Raymakers,