Sturgeon

Acipenser, Huso spp.

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What to check for

Location

All areas

Production method

Closed system, RAS

Rating summary

It is unlikely that you will find sturgeon meat for sale in the UK, you are most likely to find farmed caviar available. As wild sturgeon are so depleted, farmed caviar is a good choice. With sturgeon farming there is no dependence on wild fish for broodstock as all fish are bred in hatcheries. Farmed sturgeon rely on a relatively high intake of fish meal and oil for the amount of protein they produce. The species is farmed in enclosed systems limiting the impact on the wider environment.Rating last updated December 2023.

Technical consultation summary

References

Antonius caviar, 2022. Nature and caring for the health of sturgeon are our priorities. Available at: https://antoniuscaviar.com/species-and-location/ [Accessed on 2.11.22]Bauer, O.N., Pugachev, O.N. and Voronin, V.N. (2002), Study of parasites and diseases of sturgeons in Russia: a review. Journal of Applied Ichthyology, 18: 420-429. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1439-0426.2002.00422.xBiomar. Sustainability Report. 2018, Available online at: https://www.biomar.com/globalassets/.global/pdf-files-_en/biomar-group-sustainability-report-2018.pdf . [Accessed 02/07/2019]BioMar, 2021. Global Sustainability Report. Available at: https://www.biomar.com/globalassets/.global/sustainability-report/en_biomar-global-sustainability-report-2021.pdf [1.11.22]Biomar, 2022. PRODUCT RANGES. Available at: https://www.biomar.com/en/denmark/product-and-species/sturgeon/ [Accessed on 01.11.22]Biomar, 2022. Marine Ingredients Position Statement, 2022. Available at https://www.biomar.com/globalassets/.global/pdf-files/2022-03-en_position-statement_marine-ingredients_ver.1_digital.pdf [1.11.22]Cargill, 2021. Cargill Aqua Nutrition Sustainability Report 2021. Available at: https://www.cargill.com/doc/1432219325606/cargill-aqua-nutrition-sustainability-report-2021.pdf [1.11.22]CITES, 2021. CITES publishes quotas for wild caviar from the Caspian Sea. Available at: https://cites.org/eng/news/pr/2008/080303_caviar.shtml [accessed 21.10.22]Dartagnan, 2022. Imported caviar from France: Available online at: https://www.dartagnan.com/osetra-malossol-caviar-imported-from-france.html. [Accessed 1.11.22]Exmoor caviar, 2022. Sustainability at Exmoor Caviar. Available at: https://www.exmoorcaviar.com/sustainability [Accessed: 2.11.22]FAO 2022. Acipenser baerii. Cultured Aquatic Species Information Programme. Text by Williot, P., Bronzi, P., Benoit, P., Bonpunt, E., Chebanov, M., Domezain, A., Gessner, J., Gulyas, T., Kolman, R., Michaels, J., Sabeau, L. & Vizziano, D.. Fisheries and Aquaculture Division [online]. Rome. Updated 2006-01-16 https://www.fao.org/fishery/en/culturedspecies/search [Cited Tuesday, November 1st 2022].Gosławice, 2022. European leader in sturgeon and catfish breeding. Modern technology, environmental awareness, professionalism. Available at: http://ryby-goslawice.com.pl/en/aquaculture-2/ [Accessed on 1.11.22]Guardian, 2016. Locals oppose plans for East Sussex's first caviar farm. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/sep/09/locals-oppose-plans-for-east-sussexs-first-caviar-farm [Accessed on 2.11.22]Hatchery International, 2019. Cargill introduces early rearing aquafeeds. Available at: https://www.hatcheryinternational.com/cargill-introduces-early-rearing-aquafeeds-3486/ [Accessed on 01.11.22]IUCN, 2022. Search including: Acipenser sturio – Atlantic sturgeon, A. gueldenstaedtii - Osietra, A. baerii - Siberian, Huso huso – Beluga. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org/ [accessed on 21.10.22]KCCaviar, 2022. From Hatchery to Retirement: Socially Acceptable Caviar Our Philosophy. Available at: https://www.kccaviar.co.uk/pages/our-philosophy [Accessed on 2.11.22]Radosavljević V, Milićević V, Maksimović-Zorić J, Veljović L, Nešić K, Pavlović M, Ljubojević Pelić D, Marković Z. STURGEON DISEASES IN AQUACULTURE. AVM [Internet]. 2019 Sep. 12 [cited 2022 Nov. 2];12(1):5-20. Available from: https://niv.ns.ac.rs/e-avm/index.php/e-avm/article/view/34Seafood Watch, 2014. Farmed Sturgeon, Land-based flow-through and recirculating aquaculture systems. Available at: https://seafood.ocean.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Sturgeon-Farmed-US.pdf [Accessed on 1.11.22]UK Government, 2022. Fish, shellfish or crustacean farm authorisation. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/fish-shellfish-or-crustacean-farm-authorisation [Accessed on 2.11.22]York TV, 2017. Youtube, UK's first "no kill" sturgeon caviar farm. Available at: https://youtu.be/VjEitYBPR7Q [Accessed on 2.11.22]