Starry sturgeon feeds on fish, worms, crustaceans and mollusks. It lies on the bottom during the day and feeds mostly at night. This fish is anadromous and moves upriver into shallow waters to spawn. The starry sturgeon is an important commercial species of fish. It is one of the three most important species for caviar, see "Sevruga caviar", along with the Beluga sturgeon and the Ossetra sturgeon. Its flesh is considered an expensive delicacy in the Caspian region. It is used to make kabaabs, or is consumed pan fried, broiled, or smoked. There have been several attempts in Russia, Iran, Italy, and
USS Sterlet (SS-392) patrol was given over to lifeguard duty for the crews of carrier planes and B-29 Superfortresses attacking Japan. "Sterlet" rescued a New Zealander and a Briton, one was near the Kii Channel between Shikoku and Honshu. When Japanese capitulation brought an end to the patrol, "Sterlet" returned to Midway on 23 August. On 6 September, she sailed for the United States entering reaching San Diego Naval Base ten days later. "Sterlet" remained on the West Coast until the end of February 1946, at San Diego until 13 November and at San Francisco, California, thereafter. On 26 February 1946, she started