Ukraine joins STURGENE program for conservation of Danube sturgeons

In 2015, a special EU project for the Danube countries, "Study and Conservation of the Genetic Diversity of Sturgeon Species of the Middle and Lower Danube (STURGENE)," was launched, which is part of the general EU program "Sturgeon 2020". The project is aimed at protecting the genetic fund of Danube sturgeons and preventing their extinction. In 2015, Ukraine joined this program as a Danube country. The relevant agreements were reached during the visit of the delegation of the State Fisheries Agency of Ukraine to the international forum dedicated to the launch of the STURGENE project, which took place on December 1-2 in Venice in support of the EU International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River. The Chairman of the State Fisheries Agency Yarema Kovalev spoke at the forum with a presentation of the activities of the State Fisheries Agency of Ukraine as the administrative body of Ukraine of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) regarding sturgeon species and products made from them. The measures taken by Ukraine in pursuance of international obligations to preserve natural populations of sturgeon species and their rational use were reported. In particular, given the critical state of natural populations of sturgeon species, Ukraine continues the moratorium on their commercial fishing, and annually sets a zero export quota for all products of sturgeon species of natural populations.

"Today, the conservation of sturgeon species and the restoration of their stocks is one of the priority, strategic tasks for all countries of the Danube basin. Its solution requires comprehensive cooperation between governments, authorities, local communities, stakeholders, scientists and non-governmental organizations. Ukraine fully supports the STURGENE project. We are ready to participate in its implementation within our capabilities and powers," said Yarema Kovalev.

Ukraine takes part in coordinated international actions within the framework of the STURGENE project, aimed at preserving the species diversity of Danube sturgeons. The main activities of the program include: environmental protection, restoration of migration routes, stocking programs, economic alternatives to industrial sturgeon fishing, combating illegal fishing and the black market for caviar, environmental education, harmonization of legislation and enforcement of legal norms. The measures are grouped into 6 topics: political support for sturgeon protection, sturgeon protection, socio-economic measures for sturgeon protection, raising public awareness on this topic.

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