Study on starred sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus) stocks in the suthern coast of the Caspian Sea

Starred sturgeon is the most commercial sturgeon species in the Iranian coast of the Caspian Sea. The condition and the development of its stocks need scientific investigation. During the past few years Mazandaran Fisheries Research Center has tried to study the condition of these stocks to the possible extent. In this paper we have tried to describe and analyze the taxonomy, biology, ecology and different parameters such as catch data, catch per effort, length, age, weight, sexual stages and the caviar in regard to starred sturgeon. The obtained results revealed that starred sturgeon stocks are diminishing