Russia does it, Japan does it. So do Greece, Uruguay and the US. The UAE is trying to do it; so is China. Can we replicate it? Captive sturgeon farms for caviar could earn millions
A mouth-watering delicacy; an aphrodisiac, even an anti-aging facial cream. These are but a few uses of caviar, one of the most exotic and expensive foods in the world.
You can get these black pearls elegantly served on your plate in a variety of ways. Want an appetiser? You can have smoked salmon canapés with caviar on top. Looking for lunch? Go for spaghettini with caviar and champagne sauce. And if you are craving for some dessert, you definitely don’t want to miss caviar parfaits!
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| Sector: Captive farming Initial Investment: Rs 16 Cr ($2-4 m) Running Costs: Rs 3.3 Cr ($400-800k) per year Annual Revenues: Rs 11.5 Cr ($2.45-2.85m) per 5 tons of caviar and 75 tonnes of fish meat Limitations: Long start up period of 5-8 years. Regulations by CITES Competition: Fish farms producing cheaper alternatives to caviar like white fish & salmon (trout) roe |
In five star hotels, caviar is served with an exorbitant price tag of Rs 3,000-5,000 per 30 gms. But price is hardly a criterion for people indulging in it. Caviar is not only perking up restaurant menus but is also enticing people to visit spas for luxurious massages with the stuff.
So, where does caviar come from? It is the ripened eggs of female sturgeon fish. Almas, also known as golden caviar is the egg of an albino sturgeon. It is so rare that it can cost you up to Rs 5-10 lakh per kg. Beluga, the biggest of all sturgeons, is the next in line, with its caviar costing as high as Rs 1,50,000 per kg. Most Indians, however, prefer caviar coming from Sevruga sturgeon. With a price of around Rs 50,000 per kg, it is the cheapest option.
The international demand for caviar is estimated to be more than 400 tonnes annually. Poaching and pollution in the Caspian Sea has resulted in scarcity of sturgeon, causing Russia and Iran to produce only 300 tonnes. Moreover, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has regulated the exports on caviar, permitting it only if the exporting country can prove that the trade is not detrimental to the survival of the species, cutting down the supply further.
Supply of caviar never being at par with its popularity is bad news for consumers. For entrepreneurs, however, there lies an opportunity that is worth being explored. Imagine setting up a farm to produce caviar! The fish is being raised for caviar and meat in Russia, Iran, France, Italy and the United States.
To start such a venture, an initial investment of $2-4 million (Rs 16 crore) will be required to set up the sturgeon farm. The production cost, excluding the capital cost ranges from $400-800k per year. Once in full production, the farm should house 250-300 tonnes of sturgeon, targeting around 5 tonnes of caviar production and 75 tonnes of fish for meat, swim bladder and leather.
The viability of the project largely depends on the environmental conditions. Advanced farm equipment and high quality management is required to capitalise on the production and to prevent culture risks.
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Fish should be housed in tanks in fresh or salty water with culture temperatures in the range of 18-26 ºC. The current practice of surgically removing eggs from the fish ensures a long survival period for the sturgeon (sturgeon species are known to live for more than a hundred years).
Starting 2006, caviar farms have been reported to have their order books full, thanks to better processes, burgeoning demand and low supply of the natural stuff. Industry estimates say that revenues from the meat of the male fish start coming in about 2-3 years from the initial set up. Caviar, which is the major source of income, however, takes 6 to 8 years to start production. It is widely estimated that once production stabilises, annual revenues of around $2.45-2.85 million (Rs 11.5 crore) can be generated from a farm of this size.
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written by Vihar Bijlani, March 06, 2011
Kindly send detailed information regarding Sturgeon caviar farming Guidance,
We are located in surat and wants to start sturgeons farming in India. We think there s huge potential here as there are lot of salt water lakes in and around surat. We may have first mover advantage.
Please provide us with detailed layout abt sturgeon caviar farming.
Warm Regards
Vihar Bijlani
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Kindly send detailed information regarding Sturgeon caviar farming Guidance,
We are located in Delhi and wants to start sturgeons farming in India
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written by Matthew Wells, May 13, 2009
If there is an Indian company that is interested to start such a venture, we would be very interested to speak to them.
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