Sturgeon and oarfish face alarming declines worldwide
The sturgeon and oarfish are among the planet’s most endangered aquatic groups, with 26 species globally at risk of extinction. The latest Red List from the International Union for Conservation of Nature confirms the disappearance of two species in recent years, the Chinese shovelnose sturgeon and the Yangtze sturgeon. Additionally, the bastard sturgeon has vanished from commercial waters, and seven other species remain severely threatened.
The IUCN Sturgeon Specialist Group reports that nearly two thirds of sturgeon and oarfish species are classified as Critically Endangered. The assessment highlights ongoing losses in freshwater biodiversity and the degradation of rivers worldwide, underscoring the essential role these fish play in healthy ecosystems and human well‑being, as noted by WWF.
In Europe, despite ambitious policies such as the Pan-European Action Plan for Sturgeon and the EU Habitats Directive, the condition of sturgeon species continues to worsen. Seven of the eight European species are already listed as Critically Endangered, and the smallest freshwater sturgeon has been upgraded to Endangered by the IUCN.
More: Russian sturgeon is reported extinct in the Danube, the last EU refuge for the species, prompting questions about the status of protected species on community territory.
Reasons for hope
Since the Birds and Habitats Directives came into force, only one bird species and one mountain goat subspecies have disappeared in the EU, offering a glimmer of progress. WWF stresses that while the news remains grim, there are positive signs. Although the Danube sturgeon subpopulation in the Aral Sea has vanished and other populations in the Sea of Azov and the Caspian Sea have declined, new observations of young Russian sturgeon in the Rioni River of Georgia provide cautious optimism.
Expanding protected areas around the Rioni River and the Black Sea is therefore more critical than ever. After three decades of restoration work, WWF reports a documented reappearance of Adriatic sturgeon in Italy, a species once thought extinct in the wild.
Additionally, the Amu Darya spade-nosed sturgeon found in Uzbekistan suggests these populations may still breed and recover after being presumed extinct.
Across the Atlantic, long-term conservation efforts have stabilized and even slightly increased some sturgeon populations, including the pale sturgeon on the Fraser River in the United States.
Sturgeon face a broad array of threats, from illegal poaching for caviar and meat to dam construction that blocks migrations and habitat loss from sand and gravel extraction. WWF condemns the destruction of spawning grounds in Spain and urges action to protect essential habitats.
Restoring habitats
Restocking alone will not suffice. A holistic habitat-centered approach is essential, considering genetic, biological, and ecological factors to understand and address the decline.
IUCN, the World Sturgeon Conservation Society and WWF collaborate with partners to safeguard these species through scientific research, outreach, and practical conservation projects that bridge science and management.
European sturgeon images highlight a broad commitment to protection as described by conservation leaders. There are no excuses for inactivity; governments and EU institutions must act now to restore river connectivity and safeguard sturgeon habitats in major rivers. The responsibility lies with authorities to prevent further losses of sturgeon populations.
NGOs urge sturgeon range states and consumer countries to stop ignoring the risk of extinction and to support actions that save this iconic fish. A future with thriving sturgeon populations and healthy rivers is possible, but it depends on decisive changes to policy and practice, said conservation advocates.
Sturgeon, ancient living dinosaurs that evolved over 200 million years, remain remarkably similar to their prehistoric ancestors. Their survival through vast geological changes underscores their ecological importance and the urgency to conserve them.
IUCN Red List: https://www.iucnredlist.org/es/ (IUCN Red List)