Fish Species in the Volga River

The Volga River hosts a rich fish community, including:

• Sturgeon: Beluga, sterlet, Russian sturgeon (prized for caviar).
• Carp: Common, grass, silver carp.
• Pike: Northern pike (popular sport fish).
• Perch/Zander: European perch, zander.
• Asp: Fast, acrobatic cyprinid.
• Bream: Common and white bream.
• Grasshopper: Small cyprinid, often used as bait.
• Wels Catfish: Europe's largest freshwater catfish.
• Burbot: Cold-water, eel-like cod relative.
• Paddlefish: Primitive "living fossil" with paddle-like snout.

This diversity reflects the Volga's ecological importance.