Sturgeon Farming: A New Challenge
As wild sturgeon populations became increasingly scarce, aquaculture emerged as the natural alternative. Specialised sturgeon farms began to appear around the world, requiring substantial investment, advanced technical expertise and extraordinary patience.
Indeed, it takes between seven and fourteen years for a female sturgeon to reach sexual maturity and begin producing roe.
The Challenge of Water
Water is the lifeblood of sturgeon farming. In ponds and lakes, it is often sourced from mountain springs, recreating a natural environment that is pure, free from pesticides and maintained at an ideal temperature of 15 to 19°C.
Some producers favour shaded ponds, while others choose open-air facilities. Although the effects of sunlight on sturgeon growth remain largely undocumented, shaded environments appear to encourage healthier development.
To maintain a stable temperature throughout the year, many farms rely on geothermal borehole systems. The water is filtered and recycled—sometimes entirely—so that it retains its original qualities. This process ensures water that is pure, oxygen-rich, environmentally responsible and conducive to the well-being of the fish.
Sturgeons also require ample space to swim freely. Kaviari’s partner farms raise them in vast environments—lakes, ponds and large basins—providing the ideal conditions for their healthy growth and development.
The Challenge of Nutrition
The sturgeons’ diet is carefully tailored to meet their nutritional needs. It consists primarily of non-GMO certified fish-based feed, sometimes supplemented with small frozen fish such as sardines, shrimp and kilka.
Every detail matters in ensuring healthy, balanced and consistent growth.
The Challenge of Time
Early sturgeon farmers underestimated the time required to produce caviar. In reality, it takes nearly ten years on average to establish a stable caviar production, supported by a healthy stock of breeding sturgeons capable of ensuring future generations.
During their first years in aquaculture, sturgeons are raised in large lakes, freshwater ponds and spacious basins where they can develop under optimal conditions. After three to four years, their sex is determined by ultrasound. Males and females are then separated: the males are sold for their meat, while the females continue to mature in dedicated ponds and basins.
Their natural maturation cycle is carefully respected. Much like Wagyu cattle, which are raised with exceptional care, female sturgeons are protected from stress, as stress can delay reproduction by up to two years. Depending on the species, a further seven years of patience may be required before they produce their first roe.
The females showing the greatest potential, identified through biopsy, are then selected for caviar production. Their roe is processed in state-of-the-art facilities that comply with the highest European health and safety standards.