The global conservation organization, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), has recently unveiled a disturbing report. It highlights the illicit trade of Danube Sturgeon – recognized globally as one of the most endangered species – which is becoming increasingly widespread in the lower Danube region, particularly within Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, and Ukraine. The Danube River, Europe’s second-longest river after the Volga, originates from the Black Forest mountains of western Germany and stretches approximately 2,850 km until it reaches the Black Sea.
Overview of Sturgeons
Sturgeons are no recent inhabitants of this planet. They have coexisted with dinosaurs over an impressive span of about 200 million years. Remarkably, some species can grow up to eight meters in length and survive for over a century. Because of their minimal evolutionary changes over eons, they are often referred to as ‘living fossils’. This term characterizes an organism that has remained virtually unchanged since primordial times, especially when its close relatives have mostly become extinct. Examples of living fossils other than Sturgeons include the Horseshoe crab and ginkgo trees.
Considering that sturgeons live extraordinarily long lives, mature late, and spawn infrequently, their recovery from environmental and human-caused stress takes a substantial amount of time. For that reason, they serve as excellent indicators for the health of the river and various ecological factors.
Sturgeons’ Habitats
Sturgeons are not limited to a single habitat. In fact, there are 27 species of sturgeons and paddlefish spread around the Northern hemisphere. Certain species are exclusive to freshwater, while most are anadromous, being born in freshwater but spending most of their lives in marine or brackish environments. Danube sturgeons primarily reside in the Black Sea, migrating upstream the Danube and other major rivers for spawning.
Threats to Sturgeons
Sturgeons are grappling with several threats. Over-exploitation and poaching, fueled by poor fishery management and inadequate legal enforcement of fishing bans, rank high among these threats. Other factors causing harm include blocked migration paths due to dams, loss or degradation of habitats, and pollution.
Protection Status of Sturgeons
According to IUCN’s Red List, out of the six species of sturgeon in the Danube River, five are now critically endangered. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has also classified them under Appendix-II.
Significance of the World Wildlife Fund
Established in 1961 and headquartered in Gland, Switzerland, WWF is the leading global conservation organization that operates in over 100 countries. Their mission revolves around conserving nature and minimizing the most severe threats to Earth’s biodiversity. Some important initiatives of WWF include the TX2 Goal, TRAFFIC, the Living Planet Report, and Earth Hour.
About the Black Sea
The Black Sea is an inland sea situated between far-southeastern Europe and the far-western regions of Asia and Turkey. It links to the Mediterranean Sea, first through the Bosporus Strait, then via the Sea of Marmara and the Dardanelles Strait, and finally south through the Aegean Sea and the Sea of Crete. The Black Sea can also be connected to the Sea of Azov by the Strait of Kerch. Countries bordering the Black Sea include Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, and Turkey.
