Sturgeon

Sturgeon are the ancient, slow-growing fish of the family Acipenseridae, famed as the source of true caviar. Their eggs, washed, salted, and ripened, are eaten as a prized table delicacy; black caviar from the beluga sturgeon ranks among the world’s most expensive foods. Overfishing and habitat loss have devastated wild stocks, so most caviar now comes from farmed sturgeon under strict regulation, with CITES controls on trade. Proper grading, salting, and cold storage decide whether the pearls are sublime or spoiled.