The Philosopher Fish

An updated new edition of Richard Adams Careys illuminating journey across the globe to uncover the secrets of the sturgeon. From the acclaimed eco-journalist Rick Carey comes a fascinating chronicle of a fast-disappearing fishand of the people whose lives and livelihoods depend on it. Since the days of the Persian Empire, caviar has trumpeted status, wealth, prestige, and sex appeal. In this remarkable journey to caviars source, Carey immerses himself in the world of the sturgeon, the fish that lays these golden eggs. The sturgeon has a fascinating biological pastand a very uncertain future. Sturgeon populations worldwide have declined seventy percent in the last twenty years. Meanwhile, the beluga sturgeon, producer of the most coveted caviar, has climbed to number four on the World Wildlife Funds most-endangered species list. A high-stakes cocktail of business, crime, diplomacy, technology, and the dilemmas of conservation, The Philosopher Fish is the epic story of a 250-million-year-old fish struggling to survive. This new edition includes new chapters bringing up to date the story of this elusive and mysterious fish, and the people involved with both preserving and exploiting it.