Danube River fauna was enriched this month, as three important sturgeon stocking events have taken place in Isaccea (Romania) and Baja and Ercsi (Hungary). The aim of this activity is to save and strengthen two highly endangered Danube sturgeon populations by state-of-the-art conservational methods.

5000 juvenile sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) were released in Hungary, and more than 1000 of Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii) in Romania. The fish was previously tagged, in order to enable identification in case of recapture by in-situ surveys, and assist evaluation of survival rates for those released. This will provide valuable insight for larger stocking plans in the future.

"Conservational restocking is one of many necessary actions to save endangered fish. In conjunction with the provision and restoration of habitat it is essential to increase the number of animals of species and populations on the very brink of extinction", Thomas Friedrich, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna.

"Sturgeon species are currently facing a sharp decline as a result of the continuous degradation of habitats and the disruption of migration routes caused by different constructional hydrotechnics. Therefore, the recovery of these species should include, besides popular Danube actions, identification of actions that affected habitats and the measures required for their rehabilitation", Marian Tudor, Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development, Tulcea.