Origin and Sustainability

Oona Caviar is produced in the heart of the Swiss Alps, where the purest mountain spring water and unspoiled nature form its foundation. Our sturgeon are raised in resource-efficient recirculating aquaculture systems—far from environmental pollution, in harmony with nature’s rhythm. In this way, we preserve not only the purity of our caviar, but also the beauty of our homeland.

Our Mission: Authentic Swiss Caviar

Why do we exist?

It all began with water—warm, clear, and teeming with life. But how can it be returned to its source after use in a way that leaves the surrounding natural environment untouched? The answer was not to do without, but to have a vision: From the desire to protect the waters and the creatures that live there, a controlled sturgeon farm was created. And from this sense of responsibility, Oona Caviar was born—pure, respectful, and as unique as its origins.

Fish farming in harmony with nature

Fish farming - but how?

Sustainability. That has been one of our core values from the very beginning. That is why Oona Caviar is now the Swiss sturgeon farm that uses recirculating systems and renewable energy sources—made possible by pioneering work and innovative technology. 50,000 sturgeon swim continuously for years in naturally warm mountain water, are fed a specialized diet developed specifically for our sturgeon, and are carefully raised.

Living sustainability

Why is sustainability important to us?

For us, sustainability isn’t just a trend—it’s a promise. We focus on concrete measures related to water, energy, and the reuse of our sturgeon. The water is filtered, treated, and reused multiple times for fish farming. With these resource-conserving recirculating systems, we protect waterways and the environment, conserve natural resources, and ensure the well-being of our sturgeon. This is how Swiss premium caviar from Frutigen is produced—caviar that not only promises the ultimate in enjoyment but also demonstrates a commitment to responsibility—for today and for future generations.

Our Breeding Methods

Short transportation routes

Oona Caviar Harvested today and delivered tomorrow—as fresh as if it came straight out of the water. Oona Caviar is produced at Frutigen and shipped directly from there. These short shipping distances protect the environment, reduce CO₂ emissions, and preserve the pure flavor, enhanced exclusively with high-quality salt.

Recommended by the WWF

Sturgeon from Swiss recirculating aquaculture systems is featured in the WWF’s Fish Guide as “green” —a recognition of sustainable farming, stable populations, and environmentally friendly production. This rating applies to sturgeon from our Swiss recirculating aquaculture system. As a result, our sturgeon is expressly recommended.

Comprehensive Recycling (Zero Waste)

Fresh Oona Caviar is the essence and the heart of it all—but it’s by no means the only thing. Out of respect for nature, we use not only the caviar but also the meat and the sturgeon’s skin, essentially utilizing the entire fish. The skin of our sturgeon is turned into fine leather, and its flesh is offered as fillets in a variety of flavors and smoke profiles. Residual materials not used for food or leather are utilized for biogas production, helping to generate clean electricity. In this way, the cycle is complete—sustainable, honest, and full of respect.

Natural living conditions

Sturgeon fromBergquellfisch Frutigenare raised in a calm, low-stress environment, with plenty of space and under conditions that mimic natural water temperatures and growth cycles.

The food was developed by us - perfectly adapted to the respective sturgeon species and their natural needs.

Energy from hydropower, photovoltaics, solar thermal energy, biogas, and waste heat

At our production facility in Frutigen , we use a variety of renewable energy sources. Hydropower, solar energy, biogas, and the use of waste heat from the Lötschberg Tunnel work together to form an efficient, regionally based energy system. This results in production that conserves resources and reduces emissions—clean for our fish and environmentally responsible.

Mountain spring water from the Lötschberg in recirculating systems

Our water comes directly from the mountain spring in the Lötschberg - crystal clear, rich in minerals and ideal for rearing our sturgeon.

In state-of-the-art recirculation systems designed for water treatment and reuse, the water remains clean throughout the circulation process—conserving resources and operating independently of natural water bodies.

Animal welfare in focus

CITES stands for “Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora”; in German, this translates to “Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.” CITES is the international convention on species protection; since 1975, it has regulated trade in endangered animal and plant species, including sturgeon and, consequently, caviar. Its goal is to protect species and ensure that trade and consumption do not threaten their survival.

Sustainability-related certifications

how oona caviar meets these standards

That is why sustainability is important

As Switzerland’s first and only sturgeon farm, Oona Caviar is a Swiss pioneer in the protection of endangered wild sturgeon: Our caviar comes exclusively from controlled aquaculture. No wild sturgeon are harvested for its production.

All legal caviar trade is subject to strict CITES controls. Documentation is required, and every jar must be traceable back to the origin of the fish. Caviar may only come from approved, registered farms. Each package must bear a CITES number that clearly identifies the origin and year of harvest. We are proud to fully comply with these standards.