The shores of the Caspian Sea are connected with 5 countries: Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan. The Caspian Sea is known as the largest lake in the world. The Caspian Sea is located in the north of Iran and south of Russia. In the past, the Caspian Sea was a part of the Tethys Sea, which connected the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean. From 50 to 60 million years ago, the way from the Caspian Sea to the Pacific and Atlantic oceans was completely closed. The northern part of this sea is shallow, and its depth is less than 5 meters. 130 rivers flow into this sea. The largest is the Volga River, which annually brings 241 square kilometers of water into the Caspian Sea. The Caspian Sea is suitable for growing animals and plants but is vulnerable to agricultural and industrial pollution.
The Caspian Sea is one of the most valuable fish stocks in the world. More than 78 species and 48 subspecies from 17 families were identified on the southern shores of the Caspian Sea. Sturgeon fish is world-famous, and 90% of the world’s caviar is extracted from this sea. In this article, the types of fish in the Caspian Sea have been introduced so that you can get to know the nature of the Caspian Sea better and choose the fish you want for daily consumption.
Caspian Sea fish Among the fishes of the Caspian Sea, the white fish and the sturgeon fishes are very famous and diverse. 120 different species of fish have been identified in the Caspian Sea. Beluga fishes, sturgeon, stellate sturgeon, chip sturgeon, salmon, white fish, perch, shag fish, etc., are among the most valuable fish. The Caspian Sea is home to caviar, sturgeon, salmon, five species of Caspian herring, catfish, sea bream, carp, etc.
There are 18 species of shag fish, 23 species of carp, and 36 species of cowfish, which include 77% of all fish. A significant part of Caspian Sea fishes are freshwater types, which are named as types of sturgeon, carp, duck, and perch fish.
1.White fish (Rutilus kutum)
This is a spindle-shaped fish with bright silver and lead scales and a two-branched tail with white meat. The male sex of this type of fish is more elongated and has large white spots on its head, and the male meat of this fish is more. There are two types of fish, sea and cultured fish, available in the market, but sea fish are better. This fish was and is the best fish in the north, but it has very small bones, and it is very difficult to eat this fish.
2. Salmon
It is called saman and sometimes salmon. It is the best and most excellent type of fish in the world. It is spindly and elongated, with scales and a light silver coating; a black spot on it makes it recognizable. The color of the skin is white or orange. Salmon caviar is very large and orange or red. The salmon fillet is flavored in a smoked way. And they eat it with white bread and butter. This fish has decreased in number in recent years, and its price is expensive.
3. Cyprinus carpio
Carp are caught in the coastal waters of the Caspian Sea. Carp fish smells like mud because it moves on the bottom of the river or marsh and feeds on the plants in this environment. Carp fish is spindle-shaped and wide, and its color is golden-brown with large scales. Due to feeding in the marsh, carp may have an unpleasant taste.
4. Clupeonella Cultriventris
It belongs to the fish or hernig family. Its catch is limited and marketed as canned, smoked, and frozen. In Russia, it is caught from the southern waters of the Caspian Sea.
5. Salmo trutta
It is caught in the waters of the Caspian Sea and rivers. Its size is small, and its skin is spotted; the red spot is much better
6. Esox lucius (Duck fish)
This fish comes from the river and goes to the sea. It has fine olive-gray scales, and the underside of its belly is yellowish. His muzzle is stretched, and he has a big mouth and strong teeth. Duck fish are fried or grilled. This carnivorous fish is not very popular.
Duck fish feed on different food sources. They hunt fish that are a third of their size. Ducks eat almost 20% of their food and are smaller fish species.
7. Sturgeon fishes:
5 important species of sturgeon live in the Caspian Sea, especially in its southern part. Of course, today, there is a danger of changes in the migration path of these valuable fish towards the rivers for reproduction (because they are migratory river species for reproduction), pollutants, overfishing, etc. It is now extinct, and we will not have fish from the sea. These 5 important types include:
1. Beluga sturgeon (Huso huso)
2. Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii)
3. Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus)
4. Acipenser guldenstadtii
5. Acipenser stellatus
8. Sander lucioperca
After white fish, it is the most popular fish. This fish is elongated and spindly with a narrow snout, fine silver scales and no spines, and white and soft flesh. It is one of the best-selling fish in the Caspian Sea.
9. Chelon aurata
spindle-shaped with a sharp silver muzzle and large scales, its flesh is white and hard. Mackerel is smoked and fried or grilled with orange and lemon.
10. Anchovy
It is a small fish with fine silver scales. Its types include Gypsy, whose pollen is blue like a peacock’s feather. Siah Koli, dark lead scale, and Shah Koli, silver, have a wide body and are eaten fried or grilled.
11. Abramis brama
Fish is a river that goes to the sea. It is book-shaped with medium shiny silver scales and fatty flesh with many small spines. The Abramis brama is salted and coated with salt.
12. Rutilus caspicus
It is a small, scaly fish similar to carp scales and dark in color. It is cooked, fried, or grilled.
13. Herring fish
It is part of the fish of the oceans and seas, especially the Caspian Sea. Hernig means an army and an army, and the fishes move in flocks in the sea and are cheap. The scales of this fish are easily separated from its body.
The risk of extinction of Caspian sea fish
The importance of the Caspian Sea ecosystem is not hidden from anyone. The importance of this region is clear from a national and international perspective for Iran. It is an ecosystem with high species diversity (in Iran, after the Persian Gulf, the most diverse aquatic ecosystem regarding fish species).
Two main factors have caused the sharp decline of many fish species in the Caspian Sea: 1—overfishing and 2—habitat destruction.
Regarding overfishing, unfortunately, the maximum exploitation of all types of fish has been done in recent years, and less attention has been paid to the drastic reduction of some species, for example, sturgeon.
The destruction of the habitats, which has affected most of the migratory species from the sea to the river and disturbed their life cycle, especially during the reproductive period, is one of the main causes of the extinction of many fishes in the Caspian Sea. In this regard, fisheries have paid the most attention to the artificial propagation of these species, and in this field, in recent years, more attention has been paid to some specific species and some other species have been added in recent years, but still in It does not include all species. It does not fit the capacity of the Caspian Sea!
80% of fish species depend on rivers, while the Caspian Basin rivers face serious destruction, especially by humans.
If the rivers of the Caspian basin are preserved, besides the diversification of fish, it will help the circulation of sea materials and its ecosystem.
The Caspian Sea has more than 850 animal-marine species and 130 types of fish in 19 watersheds, of which at least 100 are sea fish south of the Caspian Sea (Iran).
Human exploitation of the environment is more than the capacity of the ecosystem and its restoration. This problem has faced nature with serious risks, and information and awareness in this area is one of the conservation solutions. And it is protective.
The stability of the Caspian Sea is vital for the survival of future generations, and this precious heritage and treasure should be used as best as possible.
Dredging around Gorgan Bay is one of the issues being pursued to better preserve the region’s environment and investigate its water quality improvement.
The Gamishan International Wetland, with 20,000 hectares, is drying up.
The Caspian Sea is the habitat of the world’s largest bony fish and the world’s most expensive food (caviar). It is also considered a great and important source of scientific research and studies.
