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Story 10 Jul, 2025

Sturgeon conservation: releasing hope

The quiet banks of the Danube near Fetesti, Romania, became a powerful symbol of hope for one of the world’s most ancient and endangered fish families on 12 June 2025. Through a coordinated conservation effort, over 1,500 young-of-the-year (3–5 cm) Russian sturgeons (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii) and 15 Beluga sturgeons (Huso huso), each weighing about 4 kg, were released into the river, marking a significant step forward in restoring populations and preserving the Danube’s unique biodiversity.

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Photo: WWF Romania

Sturgeon conservation in action

The sturgeons were raised in controlled environments and carefully tagged for scientific monitoring. Their release brought together local and national authorities such as the National Environmental Guard and the National Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture (ANPA), fishing communities, and national and international conservation experts committed to giving these "living fossils" a fighting chance. Both sturgeon species are listed as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

"This type of collaboration is what makes a difference," said Milica Mišković, Conservation Action Programme Officer at IUCN Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ECARO). “No single organisation or country can safeguard sturgeons alone. It requires aligned strategies and cross-border collaboration, science-based decisions, and the participation and support of local communities. It was thrilling to witness this moment, and we are grateful for the opportunity to support such efforts," she adds.
 

Photo: WWF Romania

Photo: WWF Romania

Photo: WWF Romania

Photo: WWF Romania

Photo: WWF Romania

In the days following the release, IUCN’s team contributed to the international exchange of good practices in sturgeon conservation, with the experts from BOKU University of Vienna, WWF Romania, and Fauna & Flora International. The event created space for knowledge-sharing and joint problem-solving on challenges ranging from poaching prevention to biodiversity-friendly local economies.

The Fetesti release was part of a broader collaboration between conservation projects under the IUCN Save Our Species Sturgeon Initiative, implemented by WWF Romania and BOKU University Vienna and supported by the La Prairie Group AG; as well as the LIFEBoat 4 Sturgeon project funded through the EU LIFE programme. 

Funded by La Prairie Group and implemented through IUCN Save Our Species, the SOS Sturgeons initiative aims to support on-the-ground conservation actions that protect threatened sturgeon species and their habitats, as well as improve the livelihoods of the people who depend on them. 

IUCN Save Our Species Sturgeons initiative 
Beluga sturgeon (Huso huso) 
Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii)
 

Photo: IUCN

Photo: IUCN

Themes:
Biodiversity Freshwater and water security
Topics:
Freshwater species Species conservation action
Regions:
Eastern Europe and Central Asia Europe
Nature 2030 priorities:
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