Sturgeon are farmed worldwide for caviar and meat, but their welfare needs are poorly understood and often inadequately met in intensive aquaculture systems.
Sturgeon welfare in aquaculture is complicated by the species' long lifespan, specific environmental requirements, and the high commercial value of their eggs. Intensive rearing environments — concrete tanks with high stocking densities — are likely to cause chronic stress based on cortisol studies. Poor water quality, inadequate oxygen, and temperature fluctuations cause acute suffering and mortality. The traditional method of killing females to extract eggs is now widely condemned; hormone-induced stripping allows repeated harvests without lethal intervention, representing a major welfare improvement. However, the procedure itself causes stress and should be performed by trained personnel with appropriate handling protocols. Research into sturgeon pain perception, stress indicators, and optimal rearing conditions is actively advancing but remains incomplete.