Johor teams up with Russian varsity to be a major caviar producer

MUAR (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Johor is set to become a major producer of high-grade caviar from the beluga sturgeon fish, which can fetch at least RM20,000 (S$8,000) per kg. The fish, native to central Asia and Ukraine, will be bred in recycled water system reservoirs in the valley.

Johor Bio-Technology Corp chief executive officer Datuk Dr Haris Salleh said the multi-million-ringgit aqua-culture project in the bio-technology valley near Desaru was being planned with a Russian university.

“We have signed a memorandum of understanding with St Petersburg University in Russia to undertake studies on cultivating beluga sturgeon. Russia will provide us the fry and technological assistance,” he said.

Dr Haris added that under the project, the fish would only take five years to produce the eggs, which would be taken out surgically. In the wild, he said the species would normally take about 20 years to produce the eggs or roe, which was once only served to kings and Russian czars.