AS WE SEE IT: Sturgeon and paddlefish research focuses on low risk species and largely disregards endangered species

Abstract

Sturgeons and paddlefish are among the most commercially valuable groups of fishes and include both low risk and highly endangered species. However, a recent bibliometric study on sturgeon and paddlefish research revealed that disproportionately little attention has been paid to those species that are endangered or face a high probability of extinction. With the exception of European sturgeon Acipenser sturio, all of the 8 species that are highly threatened with extinction or functionally extinct, were each addressed in less than 1% of the publications dealing with sturgeons or paddlefishes. Information on the biology and sensitive life-cycle phases of threatened sturgeon and paddlefish species, as well as knowledge of their interactions with their respective habitats, is especially deficient or lacking, thus rendering the planning and execution of protection measures even more difficult. We argue that a more stringent focus has to be placed upon conservation research and management for vulnerable species and populations that are threatened with a high risk of extinction. This also makes it a necessity to overcome the apparent lack of commitment which has been observed in some regions to developing and/or implementing effective and concerted regional actions which address sturgeon and paddlefish rehabilitation.