The Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus) declined drastically from Europe in the early years of 1900 and the last known specimen was caught in the wild 1996. Re introduction started in the German-Polish border river of Odra in the early 2000 and the German case has been a vital inspiration for the rest of the Baltic countries. In Sweden, Atlantic sturgeon was present in a number of large rivers including the Göta River on the west coast. Göta is the only Swedish river with confirmed spawning, a fact verified through preserved juvenile specimens at the Gothenburg Natural History Museum. The Swedish re introduction started late but has since then worked hard to catch up. The first juveniles were brought in spring 2024 and released via a specially designed soft release cage. Juveniles was released in both 2024 and 2025. Two small facilities for rearing were built.
Two hundred sturgeons have been equipped with acoustic telemetry, serving as a vital part of the monitoring of the re introduction program. The preliminary results show a high level of survival and an extensive migration pattern. Samples of other river fishes show a gap in the food web suitable for sturgeon juveniles.
The project is led by the NGO Swedish Water Society in corporation with the newly formed NGO Swedish Sturgeon Conservation Society. Other partners are the Gothenburg Natural History Museum, Gothenburg University, Swedish University for Agricultural Sciences in dialogue with the County Administration Board (regional authority) as well as the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (national authority). The re introduction program still do not have a long-time financial support but has so far been heavily dependent on project funding and sponsors.
