Why Does All Caviar Come From Farmed Sturgeon?

When purchasing Salmon from a store, you may come across the options of wild-caught or farmed. Wild-caught Salmon is often perceived as being more nutritious and from a purer source, making it more expensive. However, farmed Salmon, which is raised in different living conditions, is often considered a more affordable option, but is also associated with negative impacts on the environment. In contrast, Sturgeon farming follows a different approach not only for the best quality and living conditions for the Sturgeon, but to ensure the conservation for this precious species with ethical intentions for the environment. Sturgeon are a delicate species and require a clean, stress-free environment to produce high-quality Caviar. The farming process for Sturgeon has allowed an optimized approach to provide the best living conditions for the fish and to ensure sustainability. 

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From the early 1900s to the 1950s, Caviar was mainly sourced from wild Sturgeon found in the Caspian Sea. The Caspian Sea, which borders Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Kazakhstan, was the primary source of wild Sturgeon and nearly 90% of the consumption of wild sturgeon roe, or Caviar, came from this region. However, during this period, there was no regulation or control for conservation efforts in this area, and many of these countries became victims of shady practices. As the demand for Caviar grew, the wild Sturgeon population began to dwindle, and it became clear that something needed to be done to preserve this species.

In response to this, many countries came together to form the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) organization. This organization was created to address the problem of the over-exploitation of wild Sturgeon and to promote the conservation of this species. The countries that formed CITES agreed not to buy wild Caviar and instead, encouraged the use of farmed sturgeons. This was a significant step forward in preserving the wild Sturgeon population and ensuring that Caviar would continue to be available in the future.

Our processing techniques have been passed down from generation to generation. Allowing for consistency in not only the top 5% of caviar production, but consistency in ethical and sustainable approaches for farmed sturgeon.

In addition to this, CITES also started social awareness campaigns to educate the public about the importance of preserving wild Sturgeon and the benefits of farmed sturgeons. These campaigns helped to raise awareness about the issue and encouraged people to make more ethical choices when purchasing Caviar. As a result of these efforts, sturgeon farming became a standard practice around the world. This practice not only helped to preserve the wild Sturgeon population but also ensured that Caviar would continue to be available for people to enjoy.

One of the pioneers of this effort was our Father, who recognized the problem early on and encouraged Iran's fishery departments to develop and release baby Sturgeon into the Caspian Sea. This made Iran one of the earliest countries to adopt ethical practices for preserving the species. Our Father also predicted that the inevitable aspect of declining numbers would eventually happen, and sturgeon farming would become a standard practice in Iran and the world, and this prediction came true.

In conclusion, the over-exploitation of wild Sturgeon in the Caspian Sea region in the early 1900s to 1950s led to the formation of the CITES organization, which helped to promote the conservation of this species. Through the use of farmed sturgeons, social awareness campaigns and encouraging ethical practices, the wild Sturgeon population was preserved, and Caviar continues to be enjoyed by people worldwide.

The Dorasti family continues to put excellence at the forefront of every decision. Through our philosophy and dedication to quality, our products, and services, Dorasti has expanded its product line up, not only to premium caviar, but to fine-indulgences like premium truffles, saffron, and deluxe gourmet boxes. Bringing our clients products they trust and enjoy.

Thanks for reading! Did you know that Sea Urchin Roe (UNI) pairs well with caviar? Learn more about Uni HERE!