Illegal Catch of Red-listed Starry Sturgeon Detected in Odesa Region During the Spawning Ban

A serious violation of fishing regulations during the spawning ban has been recorded on the territory of the Danube Biosphere Reserve. The incident took place on 22 May during joint conservation measures carried out by state inspectors together with border guards and law enforcement officers.

According to the available information, the violation was detected at the 11th kilometre of the Danube River, near the Starostambulske arm in Izmail district, Odesa region. The offenders were found illegally catching aquatic bioresources. Among the fish caught were two specimens of starry sturgeon, a species listed in the Red Book of Ukraine, as well as three specimens of common carp.

Importantly, all the fish were alive at the time of detection. In accordance with Article 63 of the Law of Ukraine “On the Animal World” and the rules of commercial fishing in the Black Sea basin, the aquatic bioresources were released back into their natural environment.

This case has not only legal but also ecological significance. Starry sturgeon is one of the valuable sturgeon species whose populations are under special protection due to long-term decline, loss of spawning grounds, poaching and anthropogenic pressure on river ecosystems.

The Danube Biosphere Reserve is one of Ukraine’s key protected areas and part of the wider ecological system of the Danube Delta. Therefore, any violations within this territory require a particularly firm response, especially during the spawning period, when the recovery of fish populations depends on the effectiveness of protection measures.

Commentary by the Institute of Danube Research

The Institute of Danube Research emphasizes that illegal fishing during the spawning ban is not only a violation of environmental legislation, but also a direct threat to the ecological resilience of the Lower Danube.

For the Danube region, the protection of aquatic bioresources is of strategic importance. This is not only about preserving individual species, but also about maintaining the natural balance of the entire delta ecosystem, which is essential for biodiversity, fisheries, local communities and transboundary environmental security.

The illegal catch of starry sturgeon, a Red-listed species belonging to the sturgeon family, is particularly alarming. Sturgeons are indicators of the condition of large river ecosystems. Their protection requires not only occasional inspections, but a permanent system of control, monitoring, scientific support and interagency coordination.

A positive aspect of this situation is that the captured fish were alive and were returned to their natural environment. This demonstrates the timeliness of the inspectors’ response and the importance of coordinated action by environmental, border and law enforcement authorities.

As Vitaliy Barvinenko, Director of the Institute of Danube Research, Doctor of Juridical Sciences and Professor, notes:

“The Danube ecosystem is one of Ukraine’s most valuable natural resources, and its preservation must be regarded as an element of national environmental security. Illegal fishing during the spawning period, especially when Red-listed species are involved, harms not only nature but also the future of local communities that depend on the healthy condition of the river. It is essential that control on the Danube be systematic, continuous and supported by modern monitoring.”

The Institute believes that this case should serve as a basis for strengthening preventive work in the Lower Danube. It is necessary to develop regular environmental monitoring, increase accountability for poaching, support scientific research on the state of sturgeon populations and ensure proper coordination among all authorities responsible for the protection of aquatic bioresources.

The preservation of starry sturgeon and other valuable Danube species is not a narrow sectoral issue of fisheries management. It is an element of long-term sustainable development policy for the Ukrainian Danube region, where economic activity, security, environmental interests and the interests of local communities must be properly balanced.