Management approaches and aquaculture of sturgeons in the Lower Danube region countries

Abstract

SummaryThis paper presents the status and trends in management of sturgeon species and the development of sturgeon aquaculture in the Lower Danube countries: Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Ukraine and Moldova. Sturgeon fishery moratoria and aquaculture development represent first steps in the Lower Danube countries to combat extirpation. Supportive stocking was used as a compensation for the impact of sturgeon fishery and dam construction, but these efforts unfortunately lacked adequate cooperation and coordination between and among region countries. Unsolved problems remain, such as the presence of illegal sturgeon fishery, water pollution, habitat destruction and fragmentation. Construction of fish passes and habitat restoration project developments are two key issues that have yet to be tackled in the Lower Danube region.

A Multistep DNA-Based Methodology for Accurate Authentication of Sturgeon Species

“…In Romanian fish farms, for example, valuable species in terms of producing high-quality caviar (beluga sturgeon— Huso huso , stellate sturgeon— Acipenser stellatus , Russian sturgeon— Acipenser gueldenstaedtii ) or high-quality meat (sterlet— Acipenser ruthenus ) are now reared. In addition to these species, found on the verge of extinction in the Danube River, fish farms rear exotic species, such as the Siberian sturgeon ( Acipenser baerii ), and different interspecific hybrids with high commercial value [ 6 , 7 ]. The phenomenon of interspecific hybridization occurs very rarely among vertebrates because the parental genomes are incompatible and the hybrids formed are sterile [ 8 ].…”

Migrations and swimming capabilities of endangered pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) to guide passage designs in the fragmented Yellowstone River

“…Diminished access to historical spawning areas imposed by dams is a threat to reproduction and persistence of sturgeons (Rochard et al ), and providing passage is recognized as a necessary measure to restore stocks throughout the world (e.g. Holcik et al ; Daugherty et al ; Smederevac‐Lalic et al ). The design of fishways as passage routes through, over, or around dams requires an understanding of the migratory behavior and swimming capabilities of the species, and a melding of ecological and engineering considerations to identify and rectify potential factors that may hinder passage success.…”

Political and Socio-Economic Aspects of Fisheries in Inland and Coastal Waters of the Western Balkan

“…The amount of catches and landings can be considerably different, but only landings data are available. Freshwater fisheries catch data accessible in the Statistical Office are mostly based on the landing reports made by the public or private companies which were assigned to manage particular water resources (Smederevac-Lalić et al 2011c).…”