Viral video sparks debate over ethical caviar harvesting
Reddit video shows no-kill caviar method, raising ethical concerns
A video showing a method of caviar harvesting has stirred discomfort among social media users. The idea that one should only consume what they can kill themselves is debated, and after witnessing caviar harvesting, many might hesitate before reaching for a jar of fish eggs.
Vegetarians and vegans might want to look away:
Numerous videos online depict the process of caviar harvesting, and it’s not for the faint-hearted. A video posted on a Reddit thread by user u/jellylemonshake shows a sturgeon’s belly being opened with a metal tool, releasing eggs into a bucket of dark caviar as a hand moves along the fish’s body.
Beluga Caviar …. 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/Dhc8XU1RXJ
— The Cactus 101🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵 (@LeoCharles20326) October 24, 2024
The video caption states: “Beluga Caviar, 1kg of which is sold for $7,500, is obtained by milking the sturgeon.”
Caviar Star, a website, explains that caviar can be harvested in several ways, with two main methods. The ‘classic harvesting method’ involves killing the fish, but the ‘no-kill’ method, shown in the Reddit video, involves extracting the roe and then returning the fish to the sea.
The caviar is extracted either through a ‘c-section method’ where a small incision allows the eggs to be carefully removed, or by the ‘vivace method’, where an incision is made before using a ‘fish-milking technique’, as demonstrated in the video.
The process sometimes involves hormone therapy to change fish breeding patterns for easier egg collection.
Comments on the video include: “‘And what do you do for a living?'”
“I’m a fish w*nker,” one user responded.
Another commented: “This makes me uncomfortable.”
“Wait, so they didn’t kill the fish. It seems they just inserted a metal tool and extracted the eggs that way..? ….euhg,” added another.
“This is actually quite disturbing that we’re doing this as humans,” remarked another viewer.
“Perhaps we don’t need to do this,” suggested one more user.
Finally, someone concluded: “I’m not a vegetarian, but I often wonder how we’d feel if aliens did to us what we do to life on this planet.”
What are your thoughts?
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
How is caviar typically harvested?
Caviar is harvested through classic killing or no-kill methods, like the ‘c-section’ or ‘vivace’ technique.
What is the no-kill method of caviar harvesting?
The no-kill method involves milking the sturgeon to extract roe without killing the fish.
Why are people uncomfortable with caviar harvesting?
People find the process disturbing, as it involves invasive techniques to extract fish eggs.
What is the cost of Beluga caviar?
1kg of Beluga caviar is sold for $7,500.
Do all caviar harvesting methods involve killing the fish?
No, some methods allow for the fish to be returned to the sea unharmed.
