Sturgeon aquaculture for caviar production involves multiple critically endangered species with specific welfare needs and conservation responsibilities.
Sturgeon welfare in aquaculture requires understanding their specific physiological and behavioral needs as bottom-dwelling, long-lived fish. They require cool, clean water with appropriate flow characteristics. Handling stress is severe — sturgeons respond intensely to capture and air exposure with cortisol spikes that affect their immune function and health for days. Non-lethal stripping, while a welfare improvement over lethal harvest, still requires careful handling and anesthetic administration to minimize stress. The long production cycle means welfare costs accumulate over years in poorly managed facilities. Genetic integrity matters too — hybridization between species in farm settings raises conservation concerns for species already on the brink of extinction.