Fishing Methods
Sturgeon are caught during their migration, as they leave marine waters to reach spawning grounds located in freshwater, near estuaries and along the coastline.
In the past, the Soviet coast of the Caspian Sea was divided into five fishing sectors: Baku, Makhachkala, Astrakhan, Gouriev, and Krasnovodsk. Unlike Iran, the former USSR operated numerous floating stations — true factory ships capable of producing up to 40 tonnes of caviar per day during peak season.
On the Iranian side, fisheries extended for nearly 700 kilometres along the southern shore of the Caspian Sea, from Astara to Bandar Turkman. They were divided into four fishing zones, including Anzali (14 stations) and Bandar (10 stations), where catches were the most abundant.
Iranian Artisanal Fishing: Between Tradition & Excellence
Iran, deeply attached to its traditions, rejected industrial fishing methods. The Russian “caviar factories,” as they were openly called, were simply inconceivable within Iranian culture. Iranian caviar owed its reputation to preserved natural environments and the irreplaceable expertise of its artisans.
Aboard wooden boats with lateen sails, often equipped with a small auxiliary motor, fishermen set their gillnets perpendicular to the shoreline. Trawling was strictly forbidden. Nylon nets, attached to wooden floats and buoys, were weighted with stones and submerged between 4 and 11 meters deep, crossing the currents.
Depending on weather conditions, the nets were checked once or twice a day. This regular monitoring was essential, as the fish could suffocate if they became entangled in the mesh. Retrieval operations were carried out aboard hard-chine boats crewed by three fishermen. The sturgeon were carefully removed, the nets untangled and repaired when necessary, then set back into the water. To preserve the roe, the fish were placed on their backs.
These highly specialised fishermen brought the live sturgeon back to shore within a matter of hours, ensuring they could be processed immediately at the fishing stations.
The Caviar Market in 1984
In 1984, global caviar production reached approximately 2,300 tonnes:
Of the 2,000 tonnes produced on the Soviet side, barely 100 tonnes were exported (130 according to official statistics). The Russians therefore consumed the vast majority of their production domestically.
Of the 300 tonnes produced in Iran, more than 220 tonnes were intended for export.
In total, over 300 tonnes of Iranian and Soviet caviar were exported worldwide.
Why Is Iranian Caviar So Highly Sought After?
Geography: The deep waters, rich in gravel and constantly renewed by natural currents, provide an ideal habitat for sturgeon. Iran’s rivers, largely preserved in their natural state, offer an intact hydrobiological environment, considered far superior to that of the northern Caspian Sea.
Fishing Practices: Sturgeon migrate upstream in the northern rivers to spawn. At this advanced stage of maturity, the roe becomes softer and sticky, losing the qualities most prized in fine caviar. In Iran, however, the roe is harvested at its optimal stage, resulting in caviar with firm, shimmering pearls.
Expertise: Iranian master artisans perpetuate a tradition of meticulous manual craftsmanship, producing exceptional caviar renowned for its finesse and unparalleled quality.