The Austrian member of the European Anglers Alliance (EAA), ÖKF FishLife - Österreichisches Kuratorium für Fischerei und Gewässerschutz, has designated the European sturgeon (DE: Hausen) as its Fish of the Year for 2025. This prestigious recognition aims to honour this remarkable giant of the Danube River as an aquatic ambassador for the preservation and revitalization of Austria's native waters.
The European sturgeon (Huso huso), a member of the Acipenseridae family, is one of the oldest extant bony fish species. This remarkable aquatic creature can attain a body length of 4 to 6 meters and a weight of up to one ton. Throughout its existence, the European sturgeon has inhabited European waters, primarily feeding itself on herring-like fish.
ÖKF calls for action to preserve the European Sturgeon
The European sturgeon, a migratory fish, has been part of the Danube River ecosystem for centuries. It once reached as far as Austria and Germany. Hydroelectric power plants, overfishing, poaching for caviar, and migration barriers have drastically reduced the species its population. Now, its habitat is limited to the Black and Caspian Seas and their tributaries. Austrian EAA member, ÖKF FishLife warns that the situation is urgent, as the species faces an existential threat.
Change is needed and happening!
With the help of research institutes and universities, the European sturgeon is being re-introduced into the Upper Danube as part of the
LIFE-Boat 4 Sturgeon project. The project partners aim to prevent the extinction of the remaining four sturgeon species in the Danube river basin. From 2022 to 2030, they will implement six conservation measures to protect the Russian sturgeon, sterlet, stellate sturgeon, and beluga sturgeon.
This initiative includes the development of a floating hatchery station on the Danube in Vienna. During the project period, approximately 1.6 million sturgeons are expected to be reared on the ship by 2030. Juveniles of various species will be released into different sections of the Danube.
The ship – a former stone transport ship MS Negrelli – has been converted into a floating hatchery and will, in the future, offer a secure environment for mother and juvenile fish of the critically endangered Danube sturgeons.
Photo credits: BOKU University
A great ambassador to raise awareness on its worrying state
The European sturgeon is not only a fascinating creature, but also a symbol of the healthy handling and restoration of the Danube ecosystem writes ÖKF FishLife. With its appointment as Fish of the Year 2025, the Austria Fishing organisations - including ÖKF FishLife - and the Federal Water Management Agency (Scharfling) wants to raise general awareness about the species & its habitat. Throughout 2025, there will be a focus on both the traditional angling importance, the current threat to the species and the endangerment of its habitat.
More information
More info on the ÖKF FishLife organisation can be found
hereMore information on the LIFE-Boat 4 Sturgeon project can be found
here 
Photo credits: BOKU University