Rescue of Sturgeon Species in the Ural River Basin

This paper examines the potential and extent to which international river regimes can serve as a platform for encouraging basin wide environmental cooperation sustainable river basin management and in doing so complement regional stability. Contemporary literature indicates that river water resources are particularly volatile; as such they serve as sources of social instability and posses the power to promote regional stability by strengthening political and fostering environmental cooperation. The research complementing this paper was part of the Master’s dissertation written by the author under the title — “Comparative Approach to Environmental Cooperative Assessment of River Regimes and the Case of the International Sava River Basin Commission.” The results obtained from analyzing four cases of river conflicts — conflicts on the Rhine, Danube, Nile and Jordan Rivers — indicate that even though river conflicts are complex and basin specific, the development of a relationship between stability and river regimes is possible. Accepting such a relationship, the analysis focuses on the recently established International Sava River Basin Commission and more so because the river was under a single jurisdiction for more than half of a century. It questions the regimes credibility to successfully act as a basin-wide administrational and institutional unit, one which practices sustainable water management, without acting as an environmental protection authority and promoting environmental cooperation under the principles of transparency and stakeholder involvement.

The six native sturgeon species have been commercially harvested in the Danube Basin for more than 2,000 years, with rapid decrease in catch by mid 19th century. Additional negative effect on sturgeon populations in the Danube River was river regulation in Djerdap region, due to navigation in the late 19th century, as well as dam construction in the second half of 20th century that blocked sturgeon spawning migrations. Beside over-fishing and habitat loss, illegal trade, life history characteristics of sturgeon, lack of effective management (due to lack of transboundary cooperation and change in political situation in Lower Danube Region countries) and pollution all pose serious threats on sturgeon populations in Lower Danube Region. International measures established by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in late 20th century, listing of beluga (Huso huso) as an endangered species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, as well as development of Action plan for conservation of sturgeons in the Danube River Basin, had significant impact on activities related to sturgeon protection at beginning of 21st century. These actions were aimed towards diminishment of pressure on natural sturgeon populations and aquaculture development in countries of Lower Danube Region. The main goal of the Action Plan was to raise public awareness and to create a common framework for implementation of urgent measures. Black Sea Sturgeon Management Action Group (BSSMAG) was founded as a consultative body to improve transboundary cooperation among countries in Lower Danube Region. Nevertheless, more actions are necessary in the field of basic scientific investigation, NGO involvement and better connection among all stakeholders. Everyone involved in sturgeon protection must be aware that the sturgeon recovery, as well as their extinction, is a multi-decadal affair, especially for species with long life and late maturing like beluga. Resource users and other stakeholders must be patient enough to support recovery plans, which will allow only small-scaled sturgeon fisheries, or even fisheries that will be performed by some future generations.