Sturgeon are farmed globally for caviar production and meat. As large, long-lived fish with complex needs, they face serious welfare challenges in aquaculture settings.
Sturgeon farming raises profound welfare questions. These ancient fish are kept in conditions far removed from their natural river habitats for most of their decade-long lifespan. The egg extraction process - whether fatal or via stripping - involves significant handling stress. High stocking densities and concrete tank environments deny them natural behaviours like long-distance migration and complex substrate exploration. As fish sentience research advances, the welfare implications of sturgeon farming deserve much more scrutiny.