SturgeonSturgeon (various)

Details

  • Latin name: 
    Acipenser spp.; Huso huso; Polyodon spathula
  • Seafood type: Sturgeon
  • Harvest method: Various
  • Region: Worldwide
  • Wild/Farmed: 
    Wild
Status: 
Not Recommended

Caviar

Credit: FAO
Sustainable alternatives: 
Farmed caviar from Totem Farms in Egmont, BC is a sustainable seafood option.
Sustainability concerns: 
Overfishing has caused serious decline of paddlefish, sturgeon and lumpfish populations which supply the valuable caviar market. Extinction of many of these species is a serious concern. Sturgeon fisheries in the Caspian Sea are crashing or have collapsed.
Caviar is a highly valued commodity. Caviar was traditionally harvested fom the Caspian Sea but supplies have been declining and are becoming increasingly rare. This created an industry for harvesting caviar in other regions such as North America. Many of the long-lived species that supply caviar have declined from overfishing and habitat loss. Management plans have been ineffective at maintaining paddlefish and sturgeon species in most countries where they are harvested.
Life History and Population Status: 
Wild white sturgeon and paddlefish are primarily caught in Washington and Oregon states. Lumpfish caviar is harvested from Newfoundland and is overfished. Beluga, Russian and Starry sturgeon are traditionally from the Caspian Sea. These species are generally long-lived species, late maturing (around 25 years), only breed once every 4 years and can live up to 100 years. Overfishing has driven these species to near extinction. Wide-spread local extinctions are a serious problem. Abundance and resilience are further reduced due to water pollution and habitat loss.
Management: 
Commerical white sturgeon and paddlefish fisheries in North America are closed and wild harvest is illegal. Management of the sturgeon fisheries around the Caspian Sea is weak and largely ineffectiveness. In many cases, management plans are absent, sustainability goals are lacking, and stock assessments are unreliable.
Impact on Other Species: 
Bycatch information is insufficient or unavailable for the sturgeon fisheries around the Caspian Sea and in North America. Lumpfish are harvested as bycatch in trawl fisheries around Newfoundland. Bycatch of sturgeon in fisheries targeting other species can be significant, impeding the recovery of wild populations.
Habitat and Ecosystem Impacts: 
Habitat modifications such as dams have had a significant impact on wild sturgeon populations. Loss of fragile habitats for wild stocks means a loss to spawning and feeding grounds. Habitat degradation for these endangered species can result in local extirpation and may eventually lead to their extinction.

Notes:

  • No or little concern in this area.
  • Significant concern in this area.
  • Area under study.