By Meena Kar
Geneva, Switzerland, March 21, (THAINDIAN NEWS) According to the findings of a conservationist group, the species of sturgeon called beluga is moving towards the path of extinction rapidly. This is due to the overfishing of the species. However, Beluga is not the only fish type that is getting extinct from the world. According to reports, there are 18 such types of Sturgeons which are getting extinct and have been shortlisted for conservation.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature had said that the decrease in the number of this species is being caused by the fishing that is done in the Caspian Sea and other parts of the area. It has suggested that a total ban on the fishing of any types of such species is the only way that the species can be conserved. The IUCN has also said that 18 types of fishes are threatened by not only overfishing in the Caspian Sea but also due to the degradation in the environmental condition.

The sturgeon fish is known for its egg, caviar, which is prepared as a luxury delicacy. The black caviar is the costliest. The black eggs of sturgeon are traded at a price as high as $8000 for one kilogram. The species has gone extinct in some of the regions like Adriatic Sea and the number has decreased drastically in Azov Sea. The Sturgeons according to the participating Scientists, have a life of 100 years and reach maturity at the age between 9 and 20. The conservationist group will try to stop the illegal trade of these fishes and also put a strict limit on the fishing of female sturgeons which will then lead to the increase of the species as anticipated.