Target Marine Products LTD.

White Sturgeon

White Sturgeon Background
White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) is one of 25 species of sturgeon that evolved more than 200 million years ago. These fish are prized for their dense boneless flesh and rich caviar. In British Columbia, sturgeon were harvested from the Columbia and Fraser River watersheds via the commercial and sport fisheries starting in the 1800's. As a result of the mismanagement of fisheries and habitat, White Sturgeon in B.C. have been reduced to levels that can no longer sustain a fishery. This decline of wild sturgeon populations is not unique to B.C. or this species of sturgeon. Stocks of several sturgeon species are at critically low levels in established harvesting areas worldwide, particularly sturgeons from the Caspian Sea that have traditionally supplied the world caviar market. To read about the decline of global sturgeon populations visit the Caviar Emptor website.

Global demand for sturgeon meat and caviar is on the rise with increasing world population and increasing seafood consumption. Aside from a few sustainable sturgeon fisheries, much of this demand is being supplied from illegal poaching of wild fish. As sturgeon aquaculture grows, some of the pressure will be taken off of these wild stocks.

Sturgeon Aquaculture
With the co-operation of Malaspina University-College, Target Marine Products is developing sturgeon aquaculture in B.C. Broodstock were initially collected from the Fraser River watershed. Spawning began in 2000 and the first product was to market in 2002.

Target Marine's sturgeon are being cultured in a highly recirculated (~98%) land-based system using the latest technology available for commercial aquaculture. Culture tanks are contained inside a building for climate control, to ensure safety and security of the animals, and to eliminate any chance of fish escape. Water is ozone disinfected to ensure the highest levels of safety and pathogen control.

Culture animals are provided a feed formulated for optimal nutrition.

Sturgeon Products
Target Marine Products is now supplying the market with a sustainable supply of White Sturgeon which will help to take the pressure off wild stocks of sturgeon by reducing the illegal sturgeon trade.

• Live Sturgeon
• Sturgeon Meat
• Caviar