Sturgeon farming for caviar production involves long holding periods and invasive egg extraction procedures, raising significant welfare concerns for these long-lived fish.
Long captive holding before reproductive maturity means sturgeons experience years of captive welfare impacts before any production benefit. Traditional lethal egg extraction kills each female after a single egg harvest. Non-lethal stripping allows repeated harvests and extends productive life. Welfare standards for sturgeon aquaculture are minimal given the species' long life and complex needs.