A ban on the global trade of fished caviar will enhance the commercial prospects of Aquitaine-based caviar farmers Sturgeon, run by British fish specialist Alan Jones (see previous article). The ban, so far limited to 2006 but expected to be renewed indefinitely by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, follows concern about a shortage of sturgeon, from which caviar is produced, in the Caspian Sea.

Companies who farm caviar, rather than fish it, are likely to see a major increase in business, but not immediately.  It takes seven years to farm caviar, so enough caviar will not be produced to cope with the extra demand until 2013.