Wild sturgeon populations have collapsed due to caviar demand, and farmed caviar raises both individual fish welfare questions and important conservation considerations.
Sturgeon welfare in caviar production combines individual welfare considerations with profound conservation concerns. Wild capture for caviar is both ecologically catastrophic and welfare-negative for the individual fish. Farmed caviar reduces pressure on wild populations but raises questions about the welfare of long-lived, wide-ranging fish in captive aquaculture environments. Non-lethal caviar extraction methods represent a welfare improvement over lethal extraction and allow productive use of individual fish over their long natural lifespans. The welfare of farmed sturgeon depends heavily on water quality, space provision, and management practices. High-welfare sturgeon aquaculture is technically achievable but requires substantial infrastructure investment and management expertise.