About the initiative
Once functionally extinct in Europe, the Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) is now making a historic return to Swedish waters. Made possible by a €42,000 grant from Rewilding Europe’s European Wildlife Comeback Fund, the groundbreaking reintroduction is the first to release the species in a Swedish river. Led by the Swedish Anglers Association Region West, the “Return of the Sturgeon” initiative aims to re-establish sturgeon in the Göta River, Sweden’s largest river system. A total of 100 juvenile sturgeons—sourced from a breeding facility in Born auf dem Darß on Germany’s Baltic coast—were released near Bohus Fortress in Kungälv. Prior to release, the fish were acclimatised in riverside pools and fitted with acoustic tags for long-term monitoring via the European Tracking Network.
Göta River had spawning populations of Atlantic sturgeon until the early 20th century, when local extinction resulted from a combination of overfishing and degraded water quality. Museum specimens from the past, including juveniles, bear witness to natural reproduction in the river. Improved water quality and varied habitats today offer new prospects for restoration. Surveys found appropriate spawning substrate and food over a large area.
The Atlantic sturgeon is both an indicator and keystone species. It provides aquatic ecosystems with benefits such as stirring up river beds and consuming invertebrates and also aids other species such as freshwater pearl mussels. The reintroduced fish will eventually swim downstream into the ocean, only returning to spawn. Subsequent releases are made yearly, establishing the basis for a self-sustaining population and a wilder environment of the river.
Type of support: European Wildlife Comeback Fund (EWCF), European Rewilding Network (ERN) membership
Beneficiary organisation: Swedish Anglers Association Region West (Sportfiskarna Region West)
