THE PRESENT STATE OF BELUGA STURGEON POPULATION IN THE VOLGA-CASPIAN FISHERIES BASIN AFTER A BAN ON ITS COMMERCIAL HARVEST IMPOSED BY THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
The paper considers materials on the dynamics of beluga sturgeon abundance in the Caspian basin. There are presented relative trawl and net catches, qualitative characteristics of beluga sturgeon caught in the sea. The intensity of spawning migration of beluga sturgeon spawners in the Main Bank of the Volga River delta and their biological characteristics are analyzed. Suggestions concerning the conservation and restoration of the beluga sturgeon population are presented.