In 1925, the Caspian Sea fisheries began the commercial production we know today. The greatest demand for caviar is in Europe, the US, Canada and Japan. Major customers include airlines, international hotels, cruise ship lines, duty free shops and supermarkets. Most of the caviar consumed in the US is imported. According to customs records, the US imported more than 82 metric tons in 1995.
Sturgeon are one of the oldest living types of bony fish.
Sturgeon are generally long-lived and therefore particularly vulnerable to fishing pressure because they don't reach sexual maturity until they are 6 to 25 years of age, depending on the species. Of the 25 species of sturgeon, nine occur in North America. Beluga sturgeon from the Caspian Sea are one of the largest freshwater fish in the world, measuring up to 24 feet in length and weighing more than 2,800 pounds. One of only two living species from an old group of ancient fishes, paddlefish can grow to six feet or more. This filter feeder normally lives in dark, algae-rich water, but its long snout contains many sensory cells that allow it to navigate and detect the presence of food.