Fauna & Flora International

Sturgeons Are One of the Most Endangered Species Groups Globally. Today, Natural Spawning of Sturgeon Is Confirmed in Only Two European Rivers, the Danube and the Rioni. This Project Will Protect Some of the Last Populations of Critically Endangered Sturgeon Species in Georgia by Addressing the Impacts of Freshwater Poaching During the Spawning Migration in the Rioni River, Illegal Bycatch at the Black Sea, and Illegal Sales of Sturgeon Meat and Caviar. Specific Activities of This One-year Grant Include: (1) River Patrols and Support to Frontline Law Enforcement Officers to Effectively Counter Wildlife Trafficking; (2) Engaging Local Fishers and Civil Society Groups to Support Sturgeon Conservation; (3) Monitoring the Trade and Identifying the Species and Origin of Trafficked Sturgeon; (4) Training Coastal Fishers on Safe Release Techniques, Legal Fishing Methods, and Collection of Scientific Data; (5) Data Gathering on Bycatch Rates and International Shipping Routes for Smuggled Sturgeon, Including Identifying the Feasibility of a Transboundary Framework for the Black Sea; (6) Forming a Team of Georgian Experts to Address Sturgeon Trafficking; and (7) Raising International Awareness of Sturgeon. This Project Will Build Upon the Outputs and Successes of a Previous Usfws-supported One-year Project (2017-2018) That Enabled Ffi to Launch Sturgeon-focused Activities in the Region.