International Recognition for MonStur at the DSTF General Assembly

The Danube Sturgeon Task Force General Assembly in Munich brought together leading experts, authority representatives, conservation organizations, and international partners working to secure the future of sturgeons in the Danube Basin. 

At the heart of the discussions was one essential topic: reliable monitoring and coordinated data collection and sharing across borders, because effective sturgeon conservation can only happen through strong international cooperation and shared knowledge.

We are extremely proud that our project - MonStur in the Danube - was presented as a key contribution to this collective effort. Several MonStur partners participated in this meeting, including the lead partner, represented by Gheorghe Constantin from the Romanian Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forest, Birgit Vogel from the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River, alongside other partners participating both in person and online – reflecting the strong international partnership behind the project.

A particularly important moment came from Peter Gammeltoft, Chairman of the DSTF, who underlined the relevance of our project with a remarkable statement: “When it comes to monitoring and data collection, MonStur in the Danube is the only show in town - and all countries should join forces for the basin-wide sturgeon database.”

This recognition from the DSTF highlights the growing importance of MonStur as a cornerstone initiative for sturgeon monitoring and data integration in the Danube region. Building a shared basin-wide database is not only a technical achievement - it is a critical step toward coordinated conservation action, stronger science-based decision-making, and ultimately the recovery of some of Europe’s most endangered fish species.

We are honored to be part of such a relevant and forward-looking project, bringing together countries, institutions, scientists, and conservation practitioners around a common goal: protecting sturgeons through collaboration, innovation, and shared responsibility.