Fish and Wildlife blocks imports of Black Sea beluga sturgeon

Fish and Wildlife blocks imports of Black Sea beluga sturgeon    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has suspended imports and re-exports of beluga sturgeon caviar and meat originating in the Black Sea basin.
   Countries covered by the suspension include Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Turkey and Ukraine. This follows an announcement Sept. 30 by Fish and Wildlife to suspend trade in beluga sturgeon caviar and meat from the Caspian Sea.
   On Oct. 28, Interior Secretary Gale Norton said the countries would not be allowed to ship beluga sturgeon products to the United States until they demonstrate “significant progress in the implementation of regional conservation programs.”
   In 2004, Fish and Wildlife listed all beluga sturgeon populations as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.