Israeli company to export caviar

Researchers have developed a method of making sturgeon produce caviar earlier.

Galilee Caviar, a subsidiary of Dan Fish Farms, has begun to make caviar from sturgeon roe. The product, intended for export, has been developed with the support of the chief scientist at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, following prolonged research costing NIS 6 million.

Sturgeon, which mainly live in the Black and Caspian Seas, produce roe when reaching maturity at age 14. The research led to a method to bring maturity forward to seven to eight years.

Since sturgeon do not exist in Israel, Galilee Caviar will initially import sturgeons from Russia, which will be raised in fish farms at Kibbutz Dan. The first 20 kg of caviar produced was sent to experts. 100 kg will be produced for Christmas.

Galilee Caviar CEO Yigal Ben-Zvi said, "We will produce 4,000 kg of caviar a year, which will be sold for $500 per kg. We therefore expect $2 million a year in revenue."

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on July 4, 2005

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