The decline of the European sturgeon Acipenser sturio in the Baltic and North Sea

Abstract

The former distribution and the continuously wasteful exploitation of young and adult fish in the North Sea and Baltic Sea are analysed, by means of official statistics and publications of the 19th and 20th century. Information about the last catches of adult Acipenser sturio in the North Sea, is given in the hope of starting a reestablishment programme. The last sturgeons in the Baltic Sea were caught in 1931 (near the isle of Ruegen), in 1950 (in the Szcezcin Bay), in 1967 (near the isle of Gotland), in 1971 (in the Gdansk Bay) and in 1984 (Lake Ladoga). Reasons for stock decline and extinction of north European sturgeon populations are discussed. Efforts to reestablish the north European sturgeon should be based on the last two reproductive populations (also threatened by extinction) in the Rivers Gironde (France) and Rioni (Georgia). A cooperative effort of research centres located in the former area of distribution of Acipenser sturio is required.