TOPSPB.TV: A delicacy on the brink of extinction.

CAVIAR RUSSIA, Russia's largest black-caviar store and bar, is a project that also aims to help increase sturgeon populations.

Black caviar has always been associated with Russia worldwide. After periods of adoration and near-oblivion, it is regaining its place. St. Petersburg now has a unique venue, Caviar Russia: leading Russian producers' products fill the displays, while the bar serves a distinctive menu centred on this royal delicacy. 
OLGA RATASEP, founder of CAVIAR Black Caviar and CAVIAR RUSSIA project coordinator: “We did not set out to impress people with another beautifully decorated bar and displays — St. Petersburg already has many bars — or with complicated dishes. We surprise people in a different way, doing something no one else does: ensuring our customers receive only legal, high-quality caviar.” Russia once led the world in sturgeon catches and black-caviar exports. In the twentieth century, power-station dams blocked sturgeons' access to rivers and spawning grounds, followed by widespread poaching. Illegal trade now accounts for over half of Russia's black-caviar turnover. 
ALEXANDER MOISEEV, coordinator of WWF's sustainable marine fisheries programme and a leading sturgeon advocate in Russia: “Nine of Russia's ten sturgeon species are recommended for the Red Data Book. Transparent, honest businesses that obey the law will help preserve populations and improve public awareness.” Sturgeon populations have fallen fiftyfold. Scientists believe legal harvesting methods can save these unique species and eventually reduce delicacy prices. 
SERGEY PODUSHKA, leading ichthyologist, sturgeon breeder and developer of a method for obtaining roe from live sturgeon: “Legally produced caviar challenges the illegal market. Public education helps consumers realise there is no need to buy in back alleys when officially guaranteed, high-quality products are available. Production is growing; prices will eventually fall and poaching will become unprofitable.” The CAVIAR Black Caviar club was established within the project to revive the culture of enjoying this Russian delicacy. The priority is consumers' conscious choice of legal products.