Sturgeon farming for caviar is a growing aquaculture sector, with welfare science revealing significant challenges in housing these ancient, long-lived fish in intensive systems.
Sturgeon aquaculture welfare challenges include the fundamental mismatch between intensive tank systems and the benthic, cold-water, large-territory lifestyle sturgeon evolved for. Temperature and oxygen management are critical — inadequate cooling or oxygenation causes stress and immune suppression. Stocking density management is important for these territorial bottom-dwellers. The years-long holding required before caviar production represents an extended welfare commitment. Surgical caviar extraction — while welfare-positive compared to slaughter — involves anaesthesia and invasive procedures with associated recovery stress. Higher welfare sturgeon operations prioritise water quality optimisation, appropriate substrate, and minimally invasive extraction techniques.