Posted on June, 11 2018

In May, during the EU Green Week – Europe’s biggest environmental event, the EU Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Mr. Karmenu Vella, presented the LIFE Awards to a selection of outstanding LIFE projects.

WWF's project “Joint actions to raise awareness on overexploitation of Danube sturgeons in Romania and Bulgaria”, or “Saving Danube Sturgeons” (2012-2015) was among the 62 finalists and was awarded the title “Best LIFE Nature Project” in the category “Nature and Biodiversity”.

The LIFE Awards aim to recognise the most innovative, inspirational and effective LIFE projects in three main categories: nature protection, environment and climate action. If applied widely, these projects can have a highly positive impact on the environment, boosting economic growth and providing significant benefits for European citizens.

“Sadly, the status of most sturgeon species in the Danube river has worsened to a degree where there is a real possibility that Europe can lose these species forever. Thus, the LIFE programme gives us the chance and resources to do some necessary steps in nature conservation.”, says Jutta Jahrl, Project Manager of the awarded project.

“Saving Danube Sturgeons” ran from 2012 to 2015 and aimed to tackle overfishing, the main direct threat to the survival of the last viable wild populations of sturgeons in the EU in the Lower Danube, via cooperation with fishermen and with law enforcement authorities in Romania and Bulgaria. The successful work continues and is now extended to Serbia and Ukraine: “LIFE for Danube Sturgeons” will run from 2016 to 2020 and will contribute to the protection and safe future for sturgeons in the Danube river. Follow the project’s many activities on this website.