Sturgeon populations in the Danube River have been affected by a combination of hydropower development, over-harvesting, habitat degradation from agricultural and industrial practices and from urbanization. The effects of these changes have been monitored on six sturgeon species inhabiting the Danube River. Two of them are resident species, while the other four migrate to the river for spawning. Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser sturio) has completely disappeared from this region. Ship sturgeon (Acipenser nudiventris) is very rare in professional fishing catches. Beluga (Huso huso), Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii), stellate sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus) and sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) are endangered with different levels of extinction risk. Here, we model the time dependence of the beluga and Russian sturgeon catch in the Serbian part of the Danube River. Predicted extinction of Russian sturgeon was estimated to fall around the middle of the century, and for beluga approximately at middle of the millennium. Suggestions for sturgeon conservation measures on a national level and coordination of all relevant institutions in Serbia are also presented.

Assessment of Extinction Risk and Reasons for Decline in Sturgeon

Six species of sturgeons are native to the Danube River Basin, five are classified as either ‘Endangered’ or ‘Critically Endangered’, and one ‘Vulnerable’ according to the 2004IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In fact, one of the five endangered species, the Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser sturio), is already extinct in the Danube River Basin. The key threats to Danube sturgeons include: Over-exploitation (over-fishing linked with poaching and illegal trade), habitat loss and degradation including the disruption of spawning migrations and pollution, and potential alteration of the genetic and ecological status by the introduction of exotic species and genotypes. In December 2005, a Sturgeon Action Plan, jointly prepared by experts and stakeholders, was adopted by the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention in the frame of the Council of Europe. It puts forward a series of Objectives and associated Actions required to achieve the Plan’s ultimate Goal formulated as follows: “Through national action and international cooperation, to secure viable populations of all Danube sturgeon species and forms by sustainable management and by restoration of their natural habitats and migratory movements”.

/pdf/an-action-plan-for-the-conservation-of-sturgeons-4sw7klri8c.pdf

An action plan for the conservation of sturgeons (acipenseridae) in the Danube River Basin

The six native sturgeon species have been commercially harvested in the Danube Basin for more than 2,000 years, with rapid decrease in catch by mid 19th century. Additional negative effect on sturgeon populations in the Danube River was river regulation in Djerdap region, due to navigation in the late 19th century, as well as dam construction in the second half of 20th century that blocked sturgeon spawning migrations. Beside over-fishing and habitat loss, illegal trade, life history characteristics of sturgeon, lack of effective management (due to lack of transboundary cooperation and change in political situation in Lower Danube Region countries) and pollution all pose serious threats on sturgeon populations in Lower Danube Region. International measures established by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in late 20th century, listing of beluga (Huso huso) as an endangered species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, as well as development of Action plan for conservation of sturgeons in the Danube River Basin, had significant impact on activities related to sturgeon protection at beginning of 21st century. These actions were aimed towards diminishment of pressure on natural sturgeon populations and aquaculture development in countries of Lower Danube Region. The main goal of the Action Plan was to raise public awareness and to create a common framework for implementation of urgent measures. Black Sea Sturgeon Management Action Group (BSSMAG) was founded as a consultative body to improve transboundary cooperation among countries in Lower Danube Region. Nevertheless, more actions are necessary in the field of basic scientific investigation, NGO involvement and better connection among all stakeholders. Everyone involved in sturgeon protection must be aware that the sturgeon recovery, as well as their extinction, is a multi-decadal affair, especially for species with long life and late maturing like beluga. Resource users and other stakeholders must be patient enough to support recovery plans, which will allow only small-scaled sturgeon fisheries, or even fisheries that will be performed by some future generations.

/pdf/the-key-threats-to-sturgeons-and-measures-for-their-mi6tecxct0.pdf

The key threats to sturgeons and measures for their protection in the lower danube region

About 200,000 hectares of alluvial wetlands offer sustainable flood control, natural water purification, and incomparable ecological value on the Sava and Drava Rivers between Croatia, Hungary, and Slovenia. The continuous riparian system formed by the rivers, their tributaries, and the Danube stretches over 2,000 km. An ecosystem of pan-European importance is being endangered by unsustainable water management, hydroelectric dams, and plans to ease navigation. Large biosphere reserves are proposed to maintain the high economic and ecological value and to promote best practices in natural resources management and tourism. Birds are discussed as an indicator of the ecological importance of the flooding and geomorphology of the alluvial wetlands.

The Sava and Drava floodplains : Threatened ecosystems of international importance

Introduction
The International Association for Danube Research (IAD), a legal association (Verein) according to Austrian law, presently consists of 13 member countries and 12 expert groups covering all water-relevant scientific disciplines. IAD, founded in 1956, represents a traditional and significant stakeholder in the Danube River Basin, fulfilling an important task towards an integrative water and river basin management requested by the EU Water Framework Directive.

/pdf/the-international-association-for-danube-research-iad-3rdibb1m2r.pdf

The International Association for Danube Research (IAD)—portrait of a transboundary scientific NGO

This paper compiles an extensive literature study (REINARTZ 2002) on the biology, ecology and status of the Danubian sturgeon species, as well as possibilities for their conservation and restoration. Only four out of six acipenserid species, that were native to the Danube River Basin, still reproduce in the Lower Danube River. In the Upper and Middle Danube River, migratory sturgeons have become extinct. Survival of the only true potamodromous sturgeon species in the Danube, the sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus), depends solely on stocking in the Upper Danube. Overexploitation and habitat degradation are the major threats for Danubian sturgeons. Hence, the enforcement and implementation of strict fishing regulations, supplementing stocking programmes, and last but not least river restoration are recommended as the most effective management strategies. In particular, the existing dams along the Danube River and major tributaries must be made passable for the migrating sturgeons. Telemetry and molecular genetics may help to elucidate the natural behaviour and range of sturgeon habitats. Sound scientific research must be the foundation of sustainable sturgeon management.

Sturgeons are more than caviar: A plea for the revival of sturgeons in the Danube River (Literature review)

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Sturgeons are more than caviar: A plea for the revival of sturgeons in the Danube River (Literature review)