Video: Caviar poachers seriously impact sturgeon population

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PORTLAND, Ore. – A man at the center of an illegal network involving Northwest fish has pleaded guilty to racketeering charges.

Prosecutors say he was a broker serving wealthy customers a high-priced delicacy derived from Columbia River sturgeon.

The wide, deep waters of the Columbia River provide a perfect home for North America's largest population of sturgeon. The prehistoric-looking fish grow to amazing lengths – more than 15 feet – and reach ages of 130 years.

But their impressive size and armored exteriors cannot protect them from those seeking their valuable eggs.

"Folks that know if I can catch one oversized fish and get some caviar, I can make a lot of money," said Chris Allori, Oregon State Police, Fish and Wildlife.

Fish and Wildlife agents say that's just what the Russian folks in this Woodburn, Oregon home were doing before undercover agents ruined the party.

They uncovered a huge stash of sturgeon eggs – caviar – that goes for hundreds of dollars a pound on the black market. It's called black gold by those with pampered tastes who can easily afford it, but it comes at a horrible cost to a delicate fish population.

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The prehistoric-looking fish can grow to more than 15 feet and reach 130 years of age.

"We're very concerned about the stocks up there and any additional sources of mortality and lost production," said Tom Rien, biologist, Oregon Fish and Wildlife.

The once-thriving sturgeon population freely roamed hundreds of miles of the Columbia River until they one day met an impassable barrier. When the Bonneville Dam was built, the sturgeon were divided into two groups; those that still went out to sea and returned for normal breeding, and those trapped above it. The dam changed their breeding cycles forever.

Biologists are now recording serious drops in the populations of those Upper Columbia River sturgeon and poaching is a rapidly emerging suspect.

A female sturgeon is not ready to produce eggs until they are 25 to 28 years old and 6 feet long. They must overcome challenging odds to survive that long. Therefore, when poachers strike, all that is lost.

The accused broker, Aleksandr Grigoryan of Milwaukie, Oregon, pleaded guilty to racketeering in the case and was sentenced to 5 years' probation and thousands in fines.