All wild sturgeon species are threatened by overfishing and habitat loss. Farmed sturgeon are the source of most commercial caviar, but their long lives and complex needs create significant welfare challenges.
Sturgeon aquaculture welfare spans their entire long productive lifetime. Their slow growth and late maturity mean animals are kept in aquaculture systems for a decade or more before producing caviar. High-density tank culture during these years causes chronic stress if not managed carefully — sturgeon prefer low-velocity current, complex substrate, and moderate density. Traditional caviar production required killing females to extract eggs — a practice increasingly replaced by stripping ripe eggs from sedated fish without lethal surgery, preserving valuable breeding animals. Stress management during egg extraction is critical — anesthesia (MS-222) reduces handling stress significantly. Temperature management across seasons is important as sturgeon have seasonal behavioral and physiological cycles that must be respected. Their extreme longevity in the wild contrasts with captive lifespans cut short by production cycles.