The second phase of the 'Strengthening Sturgeon Conservation in Georgia' project has been successfully completed by the WWF Caucasus Programme Office, with support from WWF Switzerland and in collaboration with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia.

As the project neared its conclusion, a comprehensive sturgeon monitoring program was launched and the team of researchers and sturgeon experts conducted fieldwork along the Rioni River and the nearby Black Sea coast, focusing on the river’s estuary. Using methods outlined in the monitoring program developed by national and international consultants, the team carried out a 12-day study. The monitoring efforts were highly successful: 37 sturgeon individuals of various sizes, ranging from approximately 7 cm to 42 cm, were identified.

Most of the sturgeons found were Colchic sturgeon, a group endemic to the region. The diversity in size suggests successful spawning, recruitment and survival over two consecutive years in the Rioni River. These findings underscore the river's global significance as one of the last remaining sturgeon spawning habitats, highlighting its critical role in the species’ conservation.

Sturgeon - Rioni River

Fieldwork

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Strengthening Sturgeon Conservation in Georgia: Successful Fieldwork and Findings