Caspian Sea Caviar

The Caspian Sea caviar is the most sought after delicacy in the world. This has been how it has been for over a millennium. Unfortunately due to over over harvesting of the roe from all of the sturgeon species of fish, the main source of the rare delicacy is nearing extinction.

Image by Mykal Shaw via Flickr

There are 6 different species of sturgeon that live in the Caspian Sea. Of these there are three which are targeted for their roe in which has supplied the caviar for hundreds of years. The most sought after is the beluga sturgeon.

Fortunately the beluga is the largest of these ancient fish which can live up to and past 100 years. They can grow to over 4 meters in length in that time and amass a weight of over 1000 kg. This sturgeon, like all the other species in the Caspian Sea live their lives in the salt water of the sea but return to the rivers and streams that feed the sea when it comes time to spawn.

The beluga sturgeon will lay on average up to 15% of its own body mass in eggs each spawning season. This spawning only occurs every three years, but unlike the salmon that spawn and die, the beluga and all the others go back to the sea and live on.

The Ossetra sturgeon produces the second most prized type of roe in this ancient fish family. They can reach a weight up to 180 kg and reach almost 2 meters in length. Because they are a smaller species, the amount of roe obtain per fish is smaller. The maximum life expectancy of the Ossetra is only 50 years.

The smallest of the prized sturgeons is the Sevruga. This one might reach 1.5 meters in length and weigh up to 25 kg. They also produce the smallest roe of all the Caspian Sea caviar and only live up to 30 years.

One of the reasons this delicacy was discovered by man so long ago was all of the sturgeon species spawn on the flooded riverbanks in strong current fresh water streams and rivers. This has made them easy to see and catch at a time they are extremely vulnerable.

Because the preferred streams are fast flowing, the roe has to be captured before it leaves the mother which is why this fish’s demise has occurred.

The Caspian Sea caviar comes from ancient fish that are listed on the endangered list with beluga at the greatest risk. Steps have been taken to ensure their survival, but this does not necessarily mean in the wild.

wildsingapore news: Caviar back on the menu – in an ethical way

Once the preserve of Russian tsars and British royalty, caviar was described by the great Renaissance writer François Rabelais as the finest titbit in the world. But recently it has been disappearing from dinner menus, amid …

Publish Date: 11/26/2011 19:00

http://wildsingaporenews.blogspot.com/2011/11/caviar-back-on-menu-in-ethical-way.html

Related articles

• Beluga Sturgeon Caviar (gourmetfoodblog.org)
• Beluga Caviar Food Blog (gourmetfoodblog.org)

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