Global caviar production has shown steady growth since the early 2000s, largely driven by aquaculture, following the collapse of wild sturgeon fisheries and the enforcement of strict conservation measures under CITES. Current production is almost entirely based on captive broodstock, maintained and reproduced under controlled conditions, with significant contributions from hybrid strains developed to optimize yields and adapt to intensive aquaculture systems. Data collected up to 2024 indicate that more than 50 countries are now producing sturgeon or caviar, although production is highly concentrated in a smaller group of major producers in Europe and Asia. Reliable data collection remains challenging: some countries do not disclose figures, while others provide contradictory reports, requiring reliance on statistical projections or indirect estimates. Parallel to genuine sturgeon caviar, the market for substitutes and analogs from non-sturgeon fish species and plant-based sources has expanded, further complicating global trade assessments. Ongoing policy developments, including the ESA listing process in the United States and evolving conservation strategies in Europe and Asia, will continue to influence the trajectory of caviar production. Overall, aquaculture-based production represents not only a key economic sector but also a critical reservoir of broodstock essential for restocking and recovery programs of endangered sturgeon species.

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