Russia strictly regulates the caviar industry, and wild caviar
production is almost entirely banned. Consequently, the motivation
for illegal fishing remains high, and the Caspian Sea's sturgeon
population has suffered since the fall of the Soviet Union because
of illegal caviar production.
Black caviar has long been a Russian delicacy — the shiny black eggs
a delicious symbol of affluence. Worth more than gold, black caviar is
an increasingly unaffordable luxury. As a result, gourmets are turning
to lower-priced red caviar, produced by salmon, to satisfy cravings
for roe.
