Illegal Caviar Activity

By: HannahMarie12 Click author's name for more of his/her articles

Illegal Caviar
The legal caviar market is an estimated $100 million annually worldwide despite the the steep declines of sturgeon in the Caspian Sea. Most of the world’s supply comes from the Caspian Sea where demand is highest in the EU, United States and Japan, which altogether account for 95% of caviar’s consumption. The US is the largest market for Beluga caviar, bringing in 60% of world supplies. It is believed that if there was a halt on trade to the US, the sturgeon would have some relief and a chance to restore their population.

The Ban
The Convention of International trade in Endangered Species (CITES)is an international environmental agreement, or treaty, between 171 nations to ensure the global wildlife trade is managed responsibly and sustainably through a system of import and export permits. Trade in wildlife products is estimated to be worth billions of dollars every year (roughly $160 billion in the 1990s). The purpose of CITES is to ensure international trade does not threaten species’ survival. As of 2006, the global ban on caviar and sturgeon products were extended to almost all of the Caspian Sea, except Iran, ordered by CITES. The other Caspian nations, Russia, Kazahkstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan were released of a quota of sturgeon fishing. This ban on most of the trade came after years of dwindling the population of sturgeon from poachers and organized black market rings—many that had the permission of government. CITES mentioned their sympathies, but stayed adamant that this was the necessary action to take in restoring sturgeon in the Caspian Sea.

The sturgeon, which enters rivers to spawn, has long faced threats to its survival, including dams that block access to spawning grounds, pollution and over fishing. The fish are especially vulnerable to pressure because they take several years to reach sexual maturity, and in some cases spawn only once every few years. Even though fishing at sea has been banned for years to protect fish from spawning runs, fishermen can readily be seen at sea with sturgeon catches.

Nearly three years later, the current ban on commercial sturgeon fishing still exists. Caviarists around the world should refrain from buying any caviar coming from the Caspian Sea.

Illegal Caviar Operations
The caviar business is a profitable endeavor, and the black market is still booming in the caviar sector. All over the world, countries have been detaining illegal amounts of sturgeon being fished. Just this month, in Russia, over two tons of poached red caviar was seized on the Kamchatka River. Russia has seized over 61 tons of red caviar and 525 tons of salmon, with 107 ships confiscated in 2008 alone.

Swedish illegal caviar traders are being fined as well. Over 30 tins were confiscated from three different retailers, who were unable to produce correct documentation. The fish retailers claimed they were unaware of the legislation, but in all the illegal trade has been reduced significantly.

Several other cases have been made all over Europe. To prevent such illegal activities, CITES recommends that consumers buy only from reputable merchants who routinely carry caviar all year round. Any wild caviar imported before the January 2006 export and import suspension can continue to be sold, but prices are likely to go through the roof. If caviar seems too cheap, it's probably from illegal sources.