© Hartmut Jungius / WWF
The Minister of Agriculture and Food and the Minister of Environment and Water announced the introduction of a permanent ban on the fishing of all sturgeon species in the Bulgarian waters of the Danube River and the Black Sea. This important decision aims to prevent the extinction of these critically endangered fish and to contribute to the restoration of biodiversity in the region.
Sturgeon fishing has been prohibited in Bulgaria since 2011, with all previous orders being temporary, renewed annually or once every five years. With this new order, Bulgaria joins the other Danube and Black Sea countries where permanent bans on sturgeon fishing are already in force. This ensures fair sharing of restrictions on the use of shared natural resources among neighboring countries.
The role of WWF-Bulgaria in sturgeon conservation
WWF-Bulgaria has played a key role in achieving this important conservation success for sturgeon species. The organization has carried out long-term population research, implemented restocking programs by releasing nearly 100,000 juvenile sterlet, beluga, and Russian sturgeon into the Danube to date, worked to identify and protect spawning habitats, and actively supported the introduction of stricter protection measures. The scientific data and expertise of WWF-Bulgaria have been essential in justifying the need for a permanent ban and in guiding future efforts to restore these species.
Critical status of sturgeon populations
Sturgeons are among the most endangered species globally due to the loss of natural habitats, disruption of migration routes, poaching, and illegal trade in caviar. They are protected under numerous international conventions and European legal instruments.
In 2010, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classified all Danube sturgeon species as critically endangered, with the exception of the sterlet, which is listed as endangered. Two species have already disappeared from the Danube River and from Bulgaria: the German sturgeon and the ship sturgeon.
Alarming data on reproduction
Long-term studies by WWF-Bulgaria show that in recent years natural reproduction of sturgeons in the Bulgarian Romanian sector of the Danube River has been extremely limited, does not occur every year, and is clearly insufficient to maintain stable natural populations. Particularly alarming are the data for two species: over an 11-year research period, only one wild juvenile Russian sturgeon and only seven juvenile beluga sturgeons, hatched in spring, were recorded in the Bulgarian stretch of the Danube River.
Ongoing poaching pressure
Despite existing bans, illegal sturgeon fishing continues to exert serious pressure on populations. Between January 2016 and December 2023, a total of 144 cases of illegal activities related to poaching and trade in protected sturgeon species were recorded in Bulgaria. Confiscations of illegal fishing gear, including hooks, coincide with the spring and autumn migration periods of sturgeons.
In line with European policies
The proposal for a permanent ban is in line with the Pan-European Action Plan for Sturgeons (2019–2029) and the National Roadmap for the implementation of the EU Action Plan to conserve and restore marine ecosystems for sustainable and resilient fisheries.
A long-term vision for recovery
The permanent ban will remain in force until a sustainable favorable conservation status of sturgeon species is achieved across all countries sharing their populations. Saving sturgeons requires urgent action and will contribute significantly to the restoration of biodiversity in Europe.
Get involved in sturgeon conservation
WWF-Bulgaria invites everyone to join the Christmas campaign “Subscribe to Nature,” dedicated to protecting Bulgaria’s waters and their inhabitants. With your support, we can continue our work to protect rivers and wetlands in Bulgaria, as well as critically endangered sturgeons. Together, we can do more for Bulgaria’s nature.
Learn more and get involved at: dari.wwf.bg/esetra
