Sturgeon

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Context

• Poaching and trafficking are endangering four species of sturgeon in the lower section of the Danube River in southeastern Europe, one of their last strongholds.
• According to a recent report by the World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), these activities are critically affecting sturgeon populations, which are already among the most endangered fish species globally.

 Details

Illegal Fishing and Trade Statistics

• Between 2016 and 2023, WWF documented 395 cases of illegal sturgeon fishing and trade in Bulgaria, Romania, and Ukraine, involving 1,031 sturgeon individuals.
• However, this figure is likely an underestimation, as many illegal activities remain undetected.

Impact on Sturgeon Populations

• Of the 1,031 sturgeons affected, Romania reported the highest number (610), followed by Ukraine (418) and Bulgaria (3).
• Sturgeons are heavily exploited for their roe (caviar) and meat, leading to a global decline in populations.
• Of the six sturgeon species formerly native to the Danube River, two are now considered locally extinct.

 Current Threat Status

• European Sturgeon (Acipenser sturio) and Ship Sturgeon (A. nudiventris): Locally extinct.
• Stellate Sturgeon (A. stellatus), Russian Sturgeon (A. gueldenstaedtii), and Beluga Sturgeon (Huso huso): Critically Endangered.
• Sterlet (A. ruthenus): Endangered since 2022.

 Despite this, the Lower Danube Basin remains one of the few regions in Europe with self-reproducing sturgeon populations.

 Species-Specific Insights

• Sterlet (A. ruthenus): Most frequently reported in poaching cases, with 78 reports in 2018. It may still be the most abundant species in the Danube.
• Stellate Sturgeon (A. stellatus): Mentioned in 76 cases in the last four years.
• Russian Sturgeon (A. gueldenstaedtii): Involved in 39 cases.
• Beluga Sturgeon (Huso huso): Involved in 32 cases.
• Unspecified Species: 37 cases where the sturgeon species was not identified.

Hotspots

• Bulgaria: Vratsa oblast
• Romania: Tulcea
• Ukraine: Odesa

 Recommendations

• The WWF report emphasizes the need for consistent and comprehensive enforcement data from all affected countries to better understand and address sturgeon trafficking trends and illegal activities more effectively.
• The Lower Danube Basin should be prioritized for conservation efforts to protect the remaining sturgeon populations.

Sturgeon

Family: Acipenseridae
Species: 28
Historical Range: From the Late Cretaceous; ancestors date back 174-201 million years ago
Current Range: Subtropical, temperate, and sub-Arctic rivers, lakes, and coastlines in Eurasia and North America

 Physical Characteristics:

• Size: Typically 2-3.5 meters (7-12 feet); largest recorded at 7.2 meters (23 feet 7 inches)
• Body: Elongated, spindle-like, scaleless, armored with bony plates (scutes)
• Tail: Heterocercal (shark-like)
• Barbels: Four sensory organs around the mouth
• Lifespan: Average 50-60 years, mature at 15-20 years

Evolution:

• Fossil History: Early Jurassic origins; minimal morphological change over time
• Living Fossils: Long generation intervals and few predators contribute to slow evolution

 Habitat:

• Distribution: Atlantic Coast, Great Lakes, St. Lawrence, Missouri, Mississippi Rivers, Black Sea, Caspian Sea, Arctic rivers, Central Asia, Amur River, and Danube River
• Environment: Anadromous (migrates to spawn) or purely freshwater; prefers nutrient-rich, brackish waters

 Behavior:

• Feeding: Benthic feeders; diet includes shellfish, crustaceans, small fish
• Senses: Uses barbels and electroreceptors for navigation and feeding
• Leaping: Often leaping from water; reasons include communication, prey capture, or predator evasion

 Conservation Status:

• Threats: Overfishing, poaching, habitat destruction, damming
• Extinction Risk: Over 85% of species at risk; critically endangered species include the Chinese sturgeon and beluga sturgeon
• Conservation Efforts: Global and local initiatives, including restocking programs and habitat monitoring. Organizations like the World Sturgeon Conservation Society and Sturgeon for Tomorrow are active in conservation.

 About World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)

 SOURCE: DOWN TO EARTH