US bans beluga caviar imports to protect sturgeon

FT.com ^ | September 30 2005 | By Mark Turner in New York

[Brian328i]

Oh the humanity! What will we do now? No worries though, I'm sure John effed Kerry will continue to get his Beluga Caviar.

[Constitutionalist Conservative]

Alternate Title: Congress creates black market for beluga caviar

Something tells me that the kind of folks who like beluga caviar will have no trouble getting it.

[GarySpFc]

Many of you might not be aware of it, but the US was the largest producer of caviar in the early 1900s. My Russian friends go ballistic when I tell them that, and more so when I let them know Russia is currently importing it from the US. Much of it comes from the Missouri River.

[LibFreeOrDie]

Forget caviar. Smoked sturgeon is delish!

[Mrs. Shawnlaw]

SSSShhhhhhh!!!!!!!!! You weren't supposed to tell!!!!!!!!

[Noachian]

Wonderful idea.

The US government just created a black market for those wealthy enough to buy beluga sturgeon caviar at an increased price.

[Billthedrill]

Well, that's it. No more beluga caviar for me. Anyway, the orange ones in the bait and tackle shop are cheaper.

[varyouga]

As a Russian with friends in the business, I just know this is an idiotic idea.

The price for real legal Russian beluga was very very high already. With the Iran embargo it went up again. Making it illegal will increase the price even more. And NOW, connoisseurs won't mind purchasing black market caviar to get their fix since it's the only kind available.

This will make poaching more attractive and make the situation worse. I could also see this helping Iran.

DOH! Environmentalists screw up again.

[speedy]

I believe they are trying to raise some beluga in Florida these days. But you're right, they used to give away caviar in saloons 100 years ago. There are far less expensive substitutes -- like paddlefish roe -- that are pretty good.

[varyouga]

Most of what you buy in stores as "Caviar" is paddlefish or American sturgeon. It is cleverly placed in similar packages with slightly different wording.

[PzLdr]

It may not be sturgeon roe coming out of Russia. About 20 yrs ago they imported thousands of paddle fish from the U.S under a scientific treaty. Apparently their sturgeon population was taking a major hit from pollution in the Caspian and the rivers. Turns out paddle fish roe is almost indistinguishable in taste from the real thing. So the caviar may not be all that endangered.

[battlegearboat]

CAVIAR EMPTOR

[F14 Pilot]

exactly!

[RouxStir]

"Ellen Pickitch, from the Pew Institute for Ocean Science, added: “If things continue to worsen perhaps a ban should be extended to other species and go global.”"

Just who does she think she is? The Sturgeon General??

[taxesareforever]

Just creates a market for the Black Market and the government ends up with zero taxes.

[Zeppo]

From today, the US Fish and Wildlife Service is suspending imports of beluga sturgeon caviar and meat from the Caspian sea basin

OK, please excuse my ignorance. What legal power, exactly, does the US Fish and Wildlife Service have to regulate the import of foodstuffs?

[Jeff Chandler]

By order of the Sturgeon General?

[Hildy]

I love caviar...I even like the cheap caviar that you buy in your local grocery store. Mix it with cream cheese and dip your celery in it..YUMMY!!!!

[Mike Darancette]

I'm sure John effed Kerry will continue to get his Beluga Caviar.

Diplomatic pouch.