Russia along with four other Caspian countries ceases to fish sturgeons in 2014, Russian fishing industry agency Rosrybolovstvo said Friday.
 
According to the agency's head Alexander Savelyev, a joint commission of Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan reached an agreement on commercial fishing moratorium for the first time ever.
 
"The common sense eventually has prevailed. Nature should be given a rest to restore sturgeon's population," Interfax news agency quoted Savelyev as saying.
 
The official said the moratorium on fishing would last for five years.
 
Russia stopped fishing on sturgeon in 2002. Since 2011, Moscow has been offering other Caspian countries to follow its example.
 
Sturgeon, valued for its black caviar, is unique for the Caspian Sea which is a home to 96 percent of its global population. Its stocks have dramatically dwindled due to human factors such as poaching.