Green light for caviar fish farm in Somerset

PLANNERS have given the go-ahead for a fish farm near Wellington, Somerset, scheduled to produce more than £20 million of caviar a year.

Russian entrepreneur Igor Stopnikov is behind the 100,000 sq foot facility, to be located on an industrial estate in the town of Chelston.

Caviar is one of the world’s most expensive foods, costing around £85 for a 30g tin of the tiny black sturgeon eggs.

In five years’ time, the plant expects to employ 13 people and produce around eight tonnes of Osietra caviar each year.

In addition, the plant will produce around 35 tonnes annually of what are described as sturgeon fish products. Their value could take the annual revenues of the fish farm close to £30 million.