A market study on sturgeon products collected in Bulgaria, Romania, France, Italy, Germany and Switzerland resulted in a total of 128 caviar samples and 25 samples of meat (in total 163 samples). Multilocus genetic analyses based on microsatellite analysis for detecting the ploidy level and for species/hybrid identification, SNP genotyping for species/hybrid identification and sequencing of mitochondrial DNA used for the identification of the maternal species were done for verification of species declaration. At the same time, isotope analyses were involved for the discrimination of wild and aquaculture origin. The outcome comprised caviar sold in violation of CITES and EU regulations, and cases of consumer deception (e.g. artificial products sold as sturgeon caviar or meat from other species declared as sturgeon origin). Of particular concern are those samples where products were assessed as originating from wild-caught sturgeons, despite their strict legal protection. Any import of products from wild-caught sturgeons is prohibited in the EU and also no commercial fishing is allowed for the last remaining wild sturgeon populations in the EU. Although poaching and illegal wildlife trade are often considered a problem in countries outside the EU, our findings bear evidence that CITES regulations are not being adequately enforced to protect wild sturgeons and that poached sturgeon products are sold in EU Member States too. We conclude, that caviar and sturgeon trade urgently needs improvement to ensure that sturgeon populations will have a future and do not only survive in aquaculture.
 

caviar, market control, DNA, isotope analysis,