Development of sturgeon catches in German and adjacent waters since 1980

The data of sturgeon catches in German and adjacent waters since 1980 have been collected from the major river systems and coastal waters in Germany a nd neighbouring countries. Over the Fast 10 years records on catches of exo tic sturgeon species increasingly occur in the commercial and recreational fisheries, including the following species: Acipenser baerii, A. gueldensta edtii as well as hybrids from different parental species such as H. huso x A. ruthenus, A. baerii x A. ruthenus. A total of 227 records are reported, including data on their distribution. Accidental or deliberate introduction s of sturgeons have been mediated by aquaculture and/or petfish-industries. Their occurrence is discussed in relation to plans for the re-establishing of the native A. sturio.