Alleged Caviar Poachers Busted
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Federal and State wildlife officers have broken up an alleged caviar poaching ring, making 10 arrests as part of a three-state crackdown on illegal taking of giant white sturgeon from the Sacramento River.
The early morning raids in the Sacramento area culminate a two-year investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Fish and Game Departments in California, Oregon and Washington. Officers say the sturgeon eggs were sold as caviar for $50 to $250 a pound on the black market.
The investigation began in January, 2001 when California officials received a tip that a mother and son team of Fair Oaks residents had solicited people to help sell sturgeon.
