France’s only full-cycle caviar producer | |
|
|
Credit: Eric Boulommié |
The Gironde Estuary, in France’s Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, once had a thriving fishery for wild European sturgeon (Acipenser sturio). However, the species was so overexploited for its caviar that it nearly became extinct in the 1970s, leading to a ban on fishing for the species in 1982. Since 2010, CITES has banned fishing and trade of all wild sturgeon around the world. |
|
|
In response to the 1982 restrictions, the CEMAGREF – a French public research institute in agronomy and environment – swiftly introduced the Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baeri) strain into France for aquaculture production. And Nouvelle-Aquitaine – the former stronghold of the French sturgeon fishery – is now where six out of the country’s seven sturgeon farms are located. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|