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Next to Russia, where authorities are struggling to deal with poaching on the Amur river. Locals are faced with poverty and unemployment, while the pre-historic "Tsar fish", is faced with extinction.
Widespread poaching for the "Tsar fish," as it is known in Russia, and its precious black eggs has mushroomed in post-Soviet Russia. The sturgeon is listed as an endangered species and is under state protection.
The pre-historic survivor outlived the dinosaurs and is now been pushed to the verge of extinction.
The Russian Federal Sea Inspection services is part of the coast guard which regularly patrols the Amur river mouth.
The inspectors say there are alternatives to poaching, such as fishing for species not listed as endangered.
Igor Vinokurov is in charge of the Russian Federal Sea Inspection in Nikolayevsk-on-Amur.
[Igor Vinokurov, Head of Russian Sea Inspection]:
"We would like people to communicate with us more and not to be angry with us when we dismantle these nets and prevent them from fishing. There are legal ways to do it. They should obtain a license for amateur or sport fishing, and then they are welcome to go fishing in the appropriate districts at Nikolayevsk-on Amur where they they can officially fish without any fear, during the time where it is not forbidden."
Fish inspectors say a poacher can earn more than 3,300 U.S. dollars (up to 100,000 roubles) from one large Kaluga fish.
In high season they are able to catch several dozen.
In Moscow, prices for the best sorts of caviar reach $2,000 or more per kilogram.
The local fishing business allows workers a decent wage of around 5,000 U.S. dollars (around 150,000 roubles) during the 5-month salmon spawning season.
