What an important step towards the sturgeon conservation was made today! Over 120 specialists from 22 countries, representing 59 organizations have gathered to provide solutions for the white-moustache scales-bearers – the Danube sturgeons.

The three-day meeting has been co-organised by the University of Galați „Dunărea de Jos”, situated in the heart of the Lower Danube in Romania, together with WWF.

Following the same goal: required actions to conserve the critically endangered population in the entire Danube Basin, governmental officials, specialists and EU representatives have navigated together, in this first day, through key objectives that shall provide support in the near future for the species.

Among the strategic matters identified during the conference, the following have been addressed:

•        monitoring of sturgeon population in the Danube Basin and the Black Sea
•        restocking
•        enhancing cooperation across the Danube countries
•        pouching reduction
•        extending of the fishing ban for 10 more years for further protection
•        developing plans in order to access more funds from the EU
•        dams in the upper section of the Danube (25)

Of course the ”good water status” is essential for maintaining a healthy fish population and that is why improvement of water bodies hydrology was mentioned as an important factor that has to be enhanced.

Also, although it has been proved to be a successful measure, restocking alone will not reverse the decreasing population that we face nowadays, if not bound to ”in situ” and ”ex situ” programmes.

By the end of the day all concluded that this conference, the biggest in the past 30 years, is a must, for there is no more time to wait before taking action.

Today, all were united under the banner: Together for sturgeons!