Bringing back the extinct sturgeon into the North-Eastern Baltic Sea

The objective of this ambitious project is to initiate a viable population of the Acipenser oxyrinchus in the North-Eastern part of the Baltic Sea. The only way to achieve the goal is re-introduction.

Project coordinator will be RIIGIMETSA MAJANDAMISE KESKUS (RMK) from Estonia.Partners will be Eesti Loodushoiu Keskus (WE) and Luke. Estonian institutes do the rearing, tagging and releases of sturgeon. Luke's task is to inform Finnish fishers and collect their observations from sturgeon.

Work stages are:

- Obtaining larvae for release and rearing from Germany

- Rearing of the fish with high fitness in the Põlula Fish Rearing Centre of RMK

- Release of the juveniles of different age groups into the Narva River and Pärnu River

- Monitoring of the success and evaluation of impacts

- Awareness rising and dissemination

-After Life plan

Actions and results:

1. Viable, self-sustaining population of Baltic Sea sturgeon initiated in North-Eastern Baltic Sea,

2. Tangible monitoring indicators will be verified, and results presented, the efficiency of practical protection measures taken are assessed and adapted where necessary.

3. The dissemination activities comprise features in media (TV, papers, radio, web), national (3) and international seminars (3), educational events for children (4), attending international conferences/seminars, international networking with relevant partners, communication with stakeholders, etc.

4. The adaptation of the Natura 2000 network for conservation of extinct priority fish species improved. Baltic sturgeon will be included as conservation objective of relevant Natura 2000 network areas when the time has come.

5. The project will support the implementation of the Prioritized Action Framework (PAF) for Natura 2000.