Salmon Roe Confiscated in Caviar Trafficking Bust in Northern California

Wildlife officers say criminal networks employ countersurveillance techniques, underscoring high demand and profitability of illegal caviar trafficking.

Salmon roe confiscated in a trafficking bust in Sacramento, Calif., on June 3, 2025. California Department of Fish and Wildlife

California wildlife authorities have confirmed illegal fishing activity with sturgeon and salmon in the Sacramento River.

Two people have been charged with taking an endangered or threatened species, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced on June 3. One individual had a previous history of snagging, or impaling fish, on the American River.