The Pan European Action Plan for Sturgeon (PANEUAP) was adopted in November 2018 under the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention to which both EU and its Member States are parties, as well as relevant Non-EU Member States such as Ukraine, Serbia or Georgia. The PANEUAP was designed to serve as a framework of almost 70 actions that aim to restore sturgeon populations to “least concern” (IUCN) or “favorable” (Habitats Directive) status.
The PANEUAP (2019-2029)[1] provides a framework for recovery measures urgently needed to restore sturgeon populations. EU Member States have endorsed this Action Plan for implementation under the Habitats Directive, which lists all eight species and obliges Member States to restore their populations to a favorable status.
In order to support the implementation of the PANEUAP, the EU through DG ENV has launched an EC Service Contract Supporting Conservation and Protection Actions to Implement the Pan-European Sturgeon Action Plan. Tasks under the service contract include:
- Compilation of information on the implementation of the PANEUAP in key sturgeon range countries
- Assessment of existing knowledge about sturgeon habitats and migration obstacles
- Development of guidelines on sturgeon habitat monitoring
- Support efforts to protect sturgeon from by-catch
- Development of a standard population monitoring methodology
- Development of best-practice technical guidance on ex situ breeding and release programmes
- Organize intersectoral meetings in key regions to increase support from stakeholders
By December 2024, the consortium will deliver above mentioned assessments of current status of conservation measures, background information for stakeholders and guidance documents in English to be disseminated among professional networks and expert groups.
Currently, the guidelines that are developed with international experts are drafted and discussed internally in a series of workshops. These guidelines comprise recommendations and practical instructions on best practice methods for ex situ facility design and operation, population monitoring and habitat monitoring.
