Undercover Investigation Exposes Cruelty at Canadian Caviar Farm

Undercover footage by Animal Justice has uncovered distressing practices at a caviar farm in Canada, prompting an official investigation by animal welfare authorities. Video footage obtained from Northern Divine Farms in Sechelt, British Columbia, reveals a series of disturbing actions that may violate federal and provincial animal welfare laws.

Source: Animal Justice/Youtube

The footage, captured by a whistleblower in November 2023, provides a rare glimpse into the operations at Northern Divine Farms, which specializes in producing caviar and roe. The videos include egregious practices like fish being repeatedly stabbed in their abdomens to assess egg maturity, without any form of pain relief. Workers can be seen using unhygienic methods such as sucking eggs directly from fish with straws. Fish are living in cramped and unsanitary conditions, leading to deformities and injuries. A violation of industry guidelines by killing fish through freezing, leading to a slow and painful death is also caught on camera. Additionally, the investigation highlights the plight of a seven-foot-long sturgeon named “Gracie,” kept in a small, filthy tank for nearly 25 years for breeding purposes.

Sturgeons like Gracie, which can grow up to six meters long and live over a century, are among the most endangered animals on Earth. Yet, they are subjected to appalling conditions in the pursuit of luxury caviar.

Camille Labchuk, executive director of Animal Justice, expressed outrage at the findings, emphasizing the inherent cruelty inflicted on sentient beings. Labchuk likened caviar production to other luxury foods like foie gras and veal, where decadence is overshadowed by cruelty.

In response to the investigation, Animal Justice has filed a detailed legal complaint with the BC SPCA, prompting an official inquiry into the facility. Furthermore, they are calling for a nationwide ban on caviar production and sales in Canada, citing the immense suffering involved.

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