Slovak Stakeholders Discuss Sturgeon Conservation Priorities under MonStur in the Danube Project

On 4 March 2026, a national stakeholder workshop on the status, conservation, monitoring, and future protection of sturgeon populations in Slovakia was held in Bratislava at the Water Research Institute. The event was organized within the framework of the MonStur in the Danube project as part of the process to develop a coordinated Transboundary Sturgeon Action Plan for the Middle and Upper Danube.

The workshop brought together experts and representatives from governmental institutions, research organizations, conservation authorities, and fisheries organizations to exchange knowledge and discuss national priorities for sturgeon conservation.

The programme included several expert presentations addressing the status of the sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) in Slovakia, perspectives for its protection in line with the Pan-European Sturgeon Action Plan, and related initiatives such as the LIFE Living Rivers programme. Participants also discussed fisheries management aspects connected to sterlet conservation and explored possibilities for improving river connectivity by addressing migration barriers.

A large part of the workshop was dedicated to moderated discussions focusing on the objectives of the Pan-European Sturgeon Action Plan. Stakeholders jointly examined key goals related to habitat protection, monitoring, restoration measures, and cooperation among institutions. The discussions allowed participants to identify challenges and opportunities for strengthening conservation actions in Slovakia.

The conclusions of the workshop will contribute to defining national priorities and proposed measures that will feed into the upcoming transboundary meeting involving stakeholders from Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary. The outcomes will support the preparation of a joint Sturgeon Action Plan for the Middle and Upper Danube, aiming to strengthen coordinated conservation efforts across national borders and improve the long-term protection of these emblematic migratory species in the Danube River Basin.