A national action plan has been launched to help restore populations of native sturgeon in British waters after sightings increased for the first time in 100 years.
Scientists behind the 10-year action plan aim to make Britain a ‘safe space’ for sturgeon by restoring key habitats, improving the connectivity of rivers, and by working with fishermen to reduce deaths caused by accidental bycatch.
“These ancient fish outlived the dinosaurs, but are now at threat of being lost forever,” said Hannah McCormick from the Zoological Society of London.
“The UK Sturgeon Conservation Strategy and Action Plan offers a solid, evidence-based way forward to restore the species – and a vital chance to save them.”
Recently there have been increased sightings of the prehistoric creatures in our coastal waters following successful conservation measures elsewhere in Europe, where six million have been introduced since 2007.
Read the full story from a previous issue of Angling Times, here.