Caviar

Beluga Caviar, Osetra Caviar, Sevruga Caviar

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Caviar is the salted eggs of sturgeon. The majority of the world’s caviar comes from the Caspian Sea, and is imported from Russian, Iran and Turkey. But overfishing and water pollution have put all Caspian Sea sturgeons at grave risk for extinction.

Though the US is only a minor caviar producer, sturgeon and paddlefish farming (aquaculture) has grown in the last several years and is considered the better choice for caviar.

Despite the fact that many sturgeons are only neutrally vulnerable based on the primary factors of life-history characteristics, all species are subject to the secondary factors of a narrow species range and habitat that has been substantially compromised by non-fishing impacts. For these reasons, the sturgeons and paddlefish of both the United States and the Caspian Sea are considered “inherently vulnerable” to fishing pressure.

The majority of sturgeon stocks in the Caspian Sea are in critical condition except the Persian sturgeon which is in poor condition. In general, the region’s sturgeons have experienced significant overfishing for a substantial period of time. Stocks are in freefall—some harvests experienced a 99% declined in just a few decades—and reproduction is compromised due to damming and destruction of spawning habitat. Furthermore, stocks are undergoing fundamental shifts towards skewed age and length structures. Since much of the overfishing is ascribed to poaching and illegal harvests, there is very little chance that current management efforts will be able to reverse what is already a potentially irreversible decline. Stocks of these Caspian sturgeon species are considered a “critical” conservation concern.

There is very little information on bycatch problems in the Caspian Sea, although historically the bycatch of juveniles both in sturgeon target fishery and other target fisheries, has been a concern. There are some bycatch reduction measures in place for Persian sturgeon in Iran, but no data exist as to their effectiveness. In recognition of the overall lack of information for the Caspian Sea species, they are listed as having a “moderate” bycatch impact.

The impact of commercial fishing gear used in the sturgeon and paddlefish target fishery on marine and riverine habitat is potentially low, but unknown. The impact that removal of sturgeons and paddlefish has on an ecosystem is also unknown. In the Caspian Sea there is currently a ban on bottom trawling for sturgeon but enforcement of this ban is questionable. Fishing practices used for harvesting sturgeons and paddlefish are, therefore, considered to have a “moderate or unknown” effect on habitats and ecosystems. It is quite likely that damming, pollution, and development all have greater environmental impacts than current fishing methods.

Although assessments are available, and they all point to the same declines that suggest a stock on the verge of utter collapse, these are all based on harvest totals, and do not indicate a thorough attempt at management of the fisheries. This combined with a general lack of information on management of the Caspian sturgeon warrants a ranking of “critical” concern.

Where is this Caviar from?

Caviar produced in US based aquaculture operations is a more sustainable choice.

Adults and children should eat no more than 4 meals per month + Contaminant levels are unknown

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