TALKING POINT

Group formed with goal of restoring the UK’s ‘lost’ native species, including sturgeon...

Plans revealed to bring sturgeon back – is this good news for our rivers?

“Sturgeon were first plundered by Saxon fish traps over 1,000 years ago”

ATHOUSAND years ago sturgeon were frequent visitors to our rivers, before overfishing and habitat destruction all but wiped them out. However, now an action group has been formed with the goal of restoring the species to UK waters.

The UK Sturgeon Alliance is a partnership between a number of environmental organisations including the Blue Marine Foundation (BLUE), Institute of Fisheries Management (IFM) and Severn Rivers Trust.

Within the next decade, the Alliance will be working to ensure UK rivers and estuaries are in a fit state to accommodate the critically-endangered species and enable it to migrate up our rivers once again.

THE DECLINE OF STURGEON

According to Rory Moore, BLUE’S head of international Projects, the sturgeon’s decline in UK waters can be traced right back to the Saxon invasion.

He said: “There’s archaeological evidence that suggests sturgeon strongholds were first plundered by Saxon fish traps over 1,000 years ago, when the species was prized for its meat and caviar – as it still is today. This overfishing was an early sign of what lay ahead for sturgeon and other fish that travel from saltwater to freshwater to spawn, such as shad and salmon.”

Rory also revealed how the sturgeon’s slow growth rate may have also attributed to the species’ decline.

“They are large, slow-growing fish that require 10- 20 years to reach sexual maturity,” he added. “They reproduce only periodically, laying thousands of delicate eggs on upriver gravel beds where the water is cool and oxygen content high.

“Given these traits, it’s remarkable that these fish are still battling for survival in a world of intensive agriculture, overfishing, water insecurity and changing climate, but we have a chance to make a difference.”

A WIDER CONSERVATION

To help gain a better understanding of how they can safeguard the species, the Alliance is working alongside conservationists in France, Spain and Germany who have undertaken similar restoration programmes.

Rory said: “The last known spawning ecosystem for European sturgeon is the Garonne river and Gironde Estuary in southwest France, and it’s here that conservationists have started restoring the breeding and feeding sites for sturgeon, releasing tagged, genetically diverse fingerlings and improving water quality.”

Over the last couple of years trawlermen in southern England have been catching young tagged French sturgeon in their nets, which has prompted the Alliance to take action.

“Although it is unlikely that sturgeon have spawned in UK rivers for many years, it’s becoming clear that sturgeon originating in European rivers are again migrating to the UK to look for suitable feeding estuaries and spawning rivers,” Rory added.

IMPROVING ACCESS

While the Alliance’s work is still in the early stages, it’s already finding ways to improve access on rivers for migrating sturgeon. As the fish attempt to navigate their way through estuaries that eventually lead to rivers such as the Trent, Thames and Severn, man-made barriers like weirs and locks will prevent them from reaching the

gravel beds which they need to spawn.

Unlocking the Severn, a project set up by the Severn Rivers Trust, has already helped the rare Twaite Shad navigate the river by building fish passes that bypass these obstructions, and Mike Morris of the Trust believes sturgeon could benefit from the project too.

He told us: “The project is opening access for all migratory species to their historic spawning grounds. The design of the passes should allow for sturgeon to migrate upriver alongside a host of other species. It’s a wonderful legacy of a project that is focussed on protecting the UK’s population of one species, the Twaite Shad, but will also provide benefits to other iconic species.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP

As the Sturgeon Alliance’s efforts build momentum, anglers are being asked to report any catches of the species to the Institute of Fisheries Management.

The IFM’s Steve Colclough said: “Anglers and trawlermen have an important role to play. If you catch a sturgeon of any kind, it’s important to take quality pictures of the flank of the fish and note whether it’s tagged or not, before releasing it. Informing the IFM where sturgeon are being caught will help the Alliance identify likely spawning areas and non-native strains of sturgeon,” he said.

● If you catch a sturgeon, email the details directly to Steve at srcifm@gmail.com