What time frame is required for a female sturgeon to mature enough to produce high-quality eggs for harvesting?
Answer
Seven to twenty years
The baseline cost of genuine caviar is fundamentally linked to the slow biological process of the sturgeon. It requires a significant commitment of time—ranging anywhere from seven to twenty years—for a female sturgeon to reach maturity where its eggs are deemed high quality and suitable for harvesting. This extended maturation period, coupled with the intensive care protocols necessary during this time in aquaculture settings, establishes the minimum expense associated with true sturgeon roe.

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