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.