US Lists Beluga Sturgeon As Threatened - Caviar Crackdown Possible (NO!)

[hatrack]

WASHINGTON - "The government said Tuesday it was listing the beluga sturgeon as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, which could lead to a reduction or ban of U.S. imports of the prized beluga caviar. The listing, which came as the result of a petition from environmental groups, brings the country’s requirements for conserving the species in line with the specifications under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, said Steve Williams, the Fish and Wildlife director.

The United States imports 80 percent of the world’s beluga caviar. Experts estimate legal trade in the black fish eggs to be worth more than $100 million a year, and the illegal catch in Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan is believed to be 10 times larger.

'Notable' population fall

Williams said there has been “a notable decrease in the wild beluga sturgeon population” due to unregulated overfishing, loss of spawning habitat and poaching to supply the black market beluga caviar trade.

Within six months, the government will decide whether to reduce or entirely ban U.S. imports of beluga caviar. Ken Stansell, Fish and Wildlife’s assistant director for international affairs, “could result in allowing the imports to continue under existing CITES regulations, whatever those might be, or it could range to a complete ban on imports into the United States.”

EDIT

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4788282/

Boy, these guys are fast - next thing you know, they'll be listing the Siberian tiger and white rhino as endangered!

[wryter2000]

1. Boo-hoo

We have to save those fish. They're amazing creatures. We can eat lumpfish caviar for a while. I know, I know...ain't the same. The sturgeons will rebound.

Also, American sturgeon caviar is pretty good, too. If * hasn't killed all the American sturgeons yet.

[aquart]

2. Great. Now we'll have a black market in Beluga caviar.

I want the Feds busting wealthy canape eaters. I can see the party. Black tie. Feds as waiters. The trays come out. Circulate. Everybody has the cracker with the black stuff, HANDS UP! YOU'RE UNDER ARREST!

The rich swallow quickly, forgetting to savor. What caviar, officers?