The 5 year ban and a glimpse at the future of Caspian caviar

It is generally known that during the months of April until June 2008 the Caspian Sea states reacted on the growing pressure of international watchdogs and authorities to ban fishing of wild sturgeons in the region. Now, after the latest CITES ban (thanks to Caviar Emptor!) in 2006 all states but Iran agreed verbally to implement a 5 year ban starting in 2009. (I really hope that this verbal agreement was done with spit and a hand shake – at least)

This leads to the conclusion that within the next years it will be tricky to find premium quality of wild caviar coming from the Caspian Sea. Exported Caspian caviar should therefor vanish some months after the latest possible catch season – this very autumn. Meaning that after April 2009 (after the usually 6 month shelf life expired) should be no legally traded caviar around which originates from Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan or Turkmenistan. Only Iranian caviar should be visible on the connoisseurs radar. It is already a fact that prices for illegal wild caviar will go sky high! Once again.

But as the Caspian Sea states are known not only for their amazing natural ressources and landscapes it is very possible that some misguided ‘authorities’ will try to benefit from this ‘rocket science’ and sell some false labeled caviar through the usual dark channels of the underworld. The profits would be just too yummy.

So, there’s the choice we have: For the optimists on one hand it can be considered as a “real step into the right direction”, as Julia Roberson of the sturgeon advocacy group Caviar Emptor puts it. For the pesimists on the other hand this step could lead right into the pockets of greedy hipocriticals. As a swiss it is not up to me to judge but to stay neutral – and to observe. Maybe just this much: I hope for the first and fear the latter.

But even if this ban comes with the right motivation and goal (= to prevent the fish from extinction) it does not do real good. The time span is just to short. Sturgeons need about 12-15 years until they spawn.  In addition the females only lay their eggs every 2-4 years. And this means that in 2014 – when the ban will be lifted – there will be achieved virtually nothing. That is why some scientists suggest a much longer ban. It would take a ban lasting for four decades to be effective.

Why waiting, if the true alternative is already here?

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Telegraph