Yichang Chinese Sturgeon Museum

Located on the island of Huangbo River in Yiling area of Yichang City, the Chinese Sturgeon Museum set up in 1993 by the Chinese Sturgeon Research Institute aims to preserve rare species of fish including the 27 species of sturgeon that still exist in the world.

Covering an area of 20,000 square meters (5 acres), the museum is comprised of several halls exhibiting living Chinese Sturgeons as well as other sturgeon species, sturgeon samples, crocodiles, tropical fish and other aquatic animals.

The Chinese Sturgeon has a history of 140 million years, and is thought to have lived at the same time as dinosaurs. It is called a "living fossil". The Chinese sturgeon has long been dubbed “The King of Fishes” within the Yangtze River because of its size. An adult Chinese Sturgeon can grow to meters (about 13 feet) long and weigh almost 500 kilogram (about 1,100 lbs). A female Chinese sturgeon will reach sexually maturity at the age of 14 and will lay about a million eggs at one time, even though only about 10% will survive.

It is a great regret that only a handful of hatched surgeon fingerlings will survive in their natural environment. The Chinese sturgeon migrates to the upper reaches of Yangtze River from the shallow sea area of the Yangtze River estuary and lay eggs in the river during summer to autumn each year.

Chinese sturgeon’s migration route was destroyed by the Gezhouba Water Conservancy Project in the 1980’s. As a result, the numbers of Chinese sturgeon has reduced rapidly. Therefore, the Chinese sturgeon institute was set up to protect the precious rare species and to reproduction of the Chinese sturgeon in order to preserve them. Young Chinese sturgeon are placed into the Yangtze River every year.

The museum also provides the opportunity to see Russia sturgeon, American Paddlefish, Amur sturgeon, Hybrid sturgeon and other rare species of sturgeon.