The environmental organization WWF Bulgaria has undertaken a large-scale initiative to restore the population of Russian sturgeon in the Danube River. Yesterday, nearly 6,500 young specimens were released in the Belene area, raised through the innovative LIFE-Boat4Sturgeon program.
The small fish, which are two and a half months old and reach a length of about 15 cm, are the result of the first specialized floating breeding center for sturgeon species in Europe, officially opened in April in Vienna. Each specimen was pre-marked, which will allow experts to track its development and migration.
Stoyan Mihov, head of the "Waters" program at WWF Bulgaria, made a special appeal to fishermen along the river: "Please be extremely careful with these young fish. If accidentally caught in nets, they must be immediately released back into the water."
Scientific data shows the critical situation of sturgeon populations. Currently, there is a complete fishing ban in the Danube and Black Sea. Experts point to multiple threats to the species' survival - the construction of hydraulic structures, inert material extraction, and systematic pollution, which create insurmountable barriers along their migration routes.
Sturgeons are an extremely important biological indicator of the ecological health of river ecosystems. Through this large-scale project, WWF Bulgaria aims not only to preserve the population but also to restore the natural balance in the Danube River's water environment.
The used methodology includes creating a genetic reserve of the four remaining sturgeon fish species that still exist in the area. Each released specimen carries the hope for the future restoration of this relict species.