„Sturgeon 2020” - a strategy for sturgeon revival in ...ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/archive/conferences/danube_forum2012/... · EU SDR, Regensburg, ... Secretariat (t.b.d.) Danube

EU SDR, Regensburg, 27-28 November 2012

Dr. Cristina Sandu - Institute of Biology Bucharest, Romanian Academy; - International Association for Danube Research (IAD)

“Sturgeon 2020”- a program for sturgeon conservation in the

Danube River Basin and the adjacent Black Sea -


June 2011 - EUSDR / Pillar II target “Secure viable populations of Danube sturgeon species and other indigenous fish species by 2020.”

January 2012 – Establishment of international Danube Sturgeon Task Force

Reinforcement of Sturgeon Action Plan, adopted in 2006 under Bern ConventionAim: “By 2020, secure viable populations of wild sturgeon populations by reversing the current declining trends for all sturgeon species, increasing the protection status of their habitats and restoring the migratory movements.”

Danube Sturgeon Task Force – Background & Development

www.dstf.eu


June 2012, ICPDR 10th Standing Working Group Meeting (Innsbruck) –resolution of the Heads of Delegations: “The Standing Working Group welcomes the establishment of the Danube Sturgeon Task Force and supports related activities towards coordinated action on the conservation and improvement of native sturgeon species in the Danube basin.”

August 2012, second DSTF meeting in Tulcea (RO) - Defining Sturgeon 2020 program and work plan, launching webpage. PA6 TA budget to be used for preparatory meetings in 2012 and 2013.

November 2012, EUSDR 1st annual forum in Regensburg - presentation of Sturgeon 2020 program

Danube Sturgeon Task Force – Background & Development

www.dstf.eu


Portfolio 1

Danube River Basin & EUSDR

Supportive MembersInformed and active for specific tasks

Over 70 members: AT, BG, CH, DE, HU, RO, RS, SK, UA

Portfolio 2

PR & Communication

Portfolio 3

Research & Project Development

Core Group – Strategy & Coordination 6 members + PAC6 (ICPDR, IAD, WWF, NIRD MR) – DE, AT, RO, CH

Portfolio 4

Black Sea activities

Portfolio 5

Secretariat(t.b.d.)

Danube Sturgeon Task Force – Core group organization


Unique value for EU biodiversity - the only river basin still sheltering 5 sturgeon species

High scientific value - “living fossils”, over 200 million years old

Excellent indicators of habitat quality and connectivity

Flagship species: ecologic, economic and social heritage of DRB

Sturgeon Conservation explicitly mentioned as target in Pillar II of EUSDR!

Why Sturgeon conservation in the Danube River Basin?

Photo: Clemens Ratschan


Major causes: • Overfishing

• Habitat loss (pollution, constructions in the river bed)

• Continuity interruption – migration disruption

Source: Stoica, G., PhD thesis, 2011 - compilation of data provided by the Danube Delta National

Institute, Tulcea

Dramatic decline

EU SDR, Regensburg, 27-28 November 2012Map source: www.icpdr.org, modified by Ralf Reinartz

Current status

XXXXXXX


Source: maps.google.com, modified by Jorn Gessner . Data provided by: Friedrich, T., Guti, G. Lenhardt, M., Pekarik, L., Suciu, R., Reinartz, R.

Key sturgeon habitats along Danube River


Sturgeon 2020

1. Acquire political support

2. Law enforcement &

capacity building

3. In situ conservation

6. Public awareness

5. Socio-economic measures

4. Ex situ conservation

Sturgeon 2020 program


1. Acquire political support

Political agreement on sturgeon protection with key stakeholders (navigation, hydropower, agriculture)

Revision of fishery policy

Green label licensing

Promote measures for habitat protection

Supportive funding programs

Photo: Roxana Mazilu


2. Law enforcement & capacity building

• Implement EU legislation & international conventions

• Enhance administrative cooperation

• Training & knowledge exchange

• Enhance control capacity

• Enforce the control of sturgeon products origin/source



3. In situ conservation

• Identification/restoration key habitats

• Evaluation of health status of habitats and biota

• Population analysis

• Stock & by-catch assessment

• Develop identification system for sturgeon products origin

• Estimate impact of climate change and invasive species –consider preventive measures

• Guidelines for population management – use research results


4. Ex situ conservation

• Inventory of sturgeon hatcheries and broodstock; green labeling system for companies

• Live gene banks

• Knowledge exchange on best practice management in hatcheries; common protocols

• Hatcheries for ecological purpose supportive stocking programs

• Draft hatcheries managementguidelines


5. Socio-economic measures

• Create alternative income sources for local communities (ecotourism, handicrafts, local markets)

• Rewarding incentives for fishery policy implementation

• Licensing system for legal fishery

• Hatcheries - commercial purpose

• Introduce eco-labeling to prove legal sources

• Introduce “community control”against poaching


6. Public awareness

• Targeted awareness raising campaigns in Danube River Basin and Black Sea area

• Knowledge exchange between Danube sturgeon stakeholders

• Involve fishery community in sturgeon management

• Shift consumers option towards farmed caviar to release pressure on wild populations



Sturgeon 2020 & EU SDR

STURGEON2020

STURGEON2020

PA 1a Navigation

PA 1a Navigation

PA 2EnergyPA 2

Energy

PA 3Tourism

PA 3Tourism

PA 4Water quality

PA 4Water quality

PA 5Environmental

risk

PA 5Environmental

risk

PA 6Biodiversity

PA 6Biodiversity

PA 7Research

PA 7Research

PA 8Competitiveness

PA 8Competitiveness

PA 11SecurityPA 11

Security

PA 9People and skills

PA 9People and skills

PA 10Institutional

capacity

PA 10Institutional

capacity

Habitat alteration

Caviar black market

Food web + habitat

Eco-tourism

Continuity disruption

Flood protection

Genetic pool

Key habitats + species

Small eco-business

Ecological education

Law enforcement


Possible funding mechanisms

• Horizon 2020 - Research and innovation - Societal challenges priorities

- Food security, sustainable agriculture, marine research, bio-economy

- Climate action, resource efficiency, raw materials

- Inclusive, innovative and secure societies

• European Regional Development Fund - habitat restoration & conservation measures

• INTERREG – cross border cooperation of administration

• National Rural Development Programs - fishing communities

• European Fisheries Funds - sustainable aquaculture facilities


Take home messageIncreasing human pressures declining availability of freshwater

resources

Balance human & environmental needs


Danube Sturgeon Task Force – www.dstf.euContact: [email protected]

Thank you for your attention

Photo: Radu Suciu, IAD Romania

Documents

„Sturgeon 2020” - a strategy for sturgeon revival in ...ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/archive/conferences/danube_forum2012/... · EU SDR, Regensburg, ... Secretariat (t.b.d.) Danube