The paper presents long-term data on catches, distribution and length dynamics of Russian sturgeon in the waters of the Caspian Sea for the summer-autumn periods in 2015-2020. When considering the catches in the different parts of the sea there is found their annual variability, which is especially noticeable in the shallow zone in the North Caspian (0.31-2.0 specimens/trawl) and in the Middle Caspian (0-1.31 specimens/trawl). In the course of determining the reasons for the interannual dynamics of catches there were revealed several decadal rises. The dependence of decadal catches on the temperature of the bottom water layer was analyzed. The highest rise in catches was observed in the first decade of September when the temperature of water lowered up to 20.0-15.0 °C. The increase was observed due to migrating individuals to the shallow zone of the Northern Caspian Sea from shallow waters. Despite the variability of catches, the localization of Russian sturgeon schooling in the northern and middle part of the sea during the summer-autumn periods of 2015-2020 has certain similar features and trends. Sturgeon species fed mainly on shallow banks and deep dumps, where
the largest catches of sturgeon were recorded from 5.0 to 12.0 specimens/trawl. The absence of sturgeon at depths of up to 3.0 m isobath in the last five years is due to the water heating up to 27.6-28.8 °C. The decrease in the length of the Russian sturgeon observed in recent years is due to an increase in the proportion of youngsters (19.2-70.0%) against the background of a decrease in the adult population. It should be noted that from 2017 to 2019 there were not found the adult species in the catches by fishing nets, which indicates their continued re-moval from the population.
DISTRIBUTION AND NUTRITION OF RUSSIAN STURGEON JUVENILES ( АCIPENSER GUELDENSTAEDTII, АCIPENSERIDAE) IN THE NORTH-WESTERN PART OF THE CASPIAN SEA
