Historically, 90% of the World's caviar has come from the Caspian Sea region and its tributary rivers. The supply, however, is shrinking rapidly. The effects of pollution, loss of spawning habitat, increased poaching (due in part to the economic havoc caused by the break up of the USSR), and over-fishing has proven to be devastating to the sturgeon population and, consequently, caviar production. CITES (the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species) recently restricted the fishing of Caspian sturgeon, further limiting global Caviar supply.

The production of caviar in the former Soviet Union countries declined from 2,270 tons in 1981 to 1,045 tons in 1990.[1] This represents a reduction of more than 55% over this ten-year period. Based on unofficial data, the exports from the same region in 1995 had further declined to less than 300 tons. (Baku Sun, July 7, 2000). The estimate of 2001 caviar production for export from the Caspian region was 150 tons. Combined with reductions of inventory, caviar exports from the region (including Iran) in 2002 could be limited to an estimated 120 tons, representing less than 5% of the region's caviar exports in 1981.

In June 1997, world leaders at CITES, agreed to establish quotas limiting the import and export of caviar in order to protect endangered sturgeon species.[2] Over the past few years CITES has recommended that all Caspian Sea countries limit their sturgeon harvests in order to maintain sustainable populations. The Animals Committee of CITES has recently concluded that these countries have failed to implement procedures for monitoring and replenishing the Caspian sturgeon population.

In addition to CITES and other governmental organizations, numerous non-governmental organizations, such as the Wildlife Conservation Society, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and Sea Web, are fiercely lobbying for the protection of wild sturgeon. Their efforts have both raised awareness about the disastrous situation in the Caspian Sea and provided a catalyst for the increased acceptance of and demand for farmed caviar.[3]