Sturgeons and their young

The rare European sturgeon is the biggest fish that is native in Dutch waters. This migratory fish is covered with bony scutes, has reddish-brown eyes, spends its life in both fresh and salt water and can grow up to 3.5 metres. Sometimes in Dutch waters other sturgeons are found, but they are mostly illegaly released or escaped pond fish. These exotic, alien species are bred for distribution via garden centres. The most common ones are shown here. The Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus) also swims in the North sea. This species closely resembles the European sturgeon, but doesn't spawn in our rivers and is less rare.