The Sterlet is a small member of the sturgeon family native to rivers draining into the Black, Azov and Caspian Seas
and some rivers of west Siberia. It is now extinct from the salt water migration areas of its former range and confined to deep rivers.
It is extremely vulnerable due to overfishing, pollution and construction of dams which prevent it migrating upstream to spawn.
Although small for a sturgeon, it is a large fish growing to over a metre. It has an elongated, pointed, upturned
snout with four barbels on the chin and is brownish in colour with a pale underside.