California Sea Grant College Program

Genetics professor Dr. Bernie May of the University of California at Davis and Sea Grant Trainee Dr. Jeff Rodzen were funded to develop a breeding program for broodstock at Stolt Sea Farm, the state’s largest producer of white sturgeon caviar. The goal of the project was twofold: to develop a breeding plan for slowing the rate of inbreeding of offspring and to investigate whether commercially desirable traits—superior growth rates, enhanced caviar yield and early sexual maturity—can be selectively bred.