Under the SturNet project we are building an actively expanding network of partners that already brings together more than 20 organisations from the countries of the Black Sea Basin. Our shared goal is to strengthen knowledge, capacity and coordinated efforts for the conservation of wild sturgeon — among the most endangered fish in the world.
One of the Bulgarian organisations in the network is the “For Our Sea” Foundation, which volunteers to help collect valuable data on sturgeon in the Bulgarian waters of the Black Sea. Their efforts under the “Sturgeon Rescuer” initiative make a significant contribution to citizen science and to engaging the fishing community.
Our cooperation has recently reached a new stage: we now have the first skin mucus samples from incidentally caught sturgeon, which are being analysed by our scientific partner in Greece.
Why Skin Mucus Is So Valuable
Skin mucus samples make it possible to:
- Genetic analysis — determining species, origin and kinship
- Health assessment — presence of pathogens, stress factors
- Tracking migration patterns
- Determining genetic diversity within the population
This provides a valuable source of high-quality scientific data, without putting the fish at risk — a key principle when working with protected species.
The Methods Are Officially Recommended by the EU
According to the Technical Guidelines for Sturgeon Monitoring, published in 2025 by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Environment, skin mucus sampling is identified as good practice (section 7.6.2), because it:
- provides high scientific value
- minimises stress for the fish
- complies with the principles of humane treatment
The method is fully consistent with:
- Directive 2010/63/EU (on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes)
- The Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC)
In Support of European Sturgeon Conservation Goals
This activity is also directly linked to Goal 5 of the Pan-European Action Plan for Sturgeons (PANEUAP), which calls for:
“Timely and continuous monitoring of the abundance and status of the remaining wild populations.”
Skin mucus samples will help with:
- determining the genetic structure of populations
- calculating the effective population size
- establishing health status
- assessing the species’ dynamics and migration
A View of the Black Sea as a Shared Ecosystem
Collecting samples from different points along the coast — from the Danube to the Black Sea — and analysing them using molecular methods speeds up building a complete picture of:
- migration corridors
- the status of populations
- areas of ecological risk
This data is vital for the conservation of the last wild sturgeon in Europe.
Science + Communities + Partnerships = A Chance for the Future
The joint work between the Protection of Biodiversity in Bulgaria Foundation, fishermen and scientific teams in the region proves that citizen science and expert approaches can go hand in hand.
This is also the true value of SturNet: we connect people, knowledge and approaches, to give sturgeon a real chance to continue to exist in our waters.
Together we give a voice to the “silent” witnesses of the rivers and the sea.
And we take a step forward towards their recovery.
