More Than 2 Million Fry of Russian Sturgeon Released into the Don River

During the construction of the Bagaevsky Hydroelectric Complex by Stroytransgaz under the Transport Infrastructure Revamp National Project, an extensive effort is currently in progress to release young Russian sturgeon. The activities have been taking place from August 8 to 11 to compensate for the damage to aquatic biological resources and their habitat. More than two million fry will be released into the Don.

On August 8, the start of the effort was attended by Viktor Goncharov, First Deputy Governor of the Rostov region, and representatives of the Azov-Black Sea Territorial Administration of the Federal Agency for Fisheries, the Azov-Don branch of Glavrybvod (Main Basin Management on Fishing and Conservation of Aquatic Biological Resources), Rostransmodernizatsiya (Directorate of State Contracting Authority for the Implementation of Integrated Transport Infrastructure Development Projects), and Stroytransgaz. The participants watched and monitored the complete process starting from the loading of fish at the Don Sturgeon Plant followed by its transportation up to the fry release into the Don River.

STG is carrying out compensatory measures on the artificial reproduction of aquatic biological resources within the framework of construction of various facilities. Environmental care and biodiversity conservation in places of presence is one of the main principles of STG in the course of its operations. The implementation of large-scale compensatory measures during the construction of Bagaevsky Hydroelectric Complex is a significant contribution to the repopulation of sturgeon.

"Every year, young fish are released into the region's natural water bodies - the Don River, the Tsimlyansk Reservoir, and the Manych Cascade. From 2019 to 2022, we’ve released 71.3 million young fish such as European carp, vimba, silver carp, Chinese carp, and sturgeon species. According to recent reports, more than 4 million young fish, including more than 1 million sturgeon, had been released by early August under the artificial reproduction plan alone. Artificial reproduction of aquatic bioresources is of great importance for replenishment of fish stocks", pointed out Victor Goncharov, First Deputy Governor of the Rostov region. 

The restoration measures, as required by the project approved by the Azov-Black Sea Territorial Administration of the Federal Agency for Fisheries, are being implemented via artificial reproduction of aquatic bioresources. Russian sturgeon with an average piece weight of 2.5 to 3.0 g, which was grown from eggs at the Glavrybvod’s Don Sturgeon Plant, was chosen as the preferred aquatic resource species. Under favorable conditions, these fish can live up to 50 years. But due to illegal fishing and long maturation, the population of Russian sturgeon has dramatically decreased in recent years. The Russian sturgeon Is listed in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. This unique species was one of the first to be farmed at fisheries and the subject of aquaculture worldwide.

"Preservation of the environment and protection of natural resources is one of the most important aspects of Stroytransgaz's operations. This is not the first time that STG, the general contractor for the construction of the Bagaevsky Hydroelectric Complex, has engaged in compensation measures. Compensation measures for interim damage to aquatic bioresources in the amount of 1,329,883 young Russian sturgeon were implemented during Phase 1 of construction. Last year, measures were taken to install artificial nesting sites for the white-tailed eagle within the boundaries of its habitat," said Levani Khumarashvili, Construction Management Director of the Bagaevsky Hydroelectric Complex at Stroytransgaz.

In total, it is planned to release 4.7 million juveniles of valuable Russian sturgeon into the Don River by the end of construction.

In August 2023, compensation measures are being implemented under a contract with the Azov-Don branch of the Main Basin Management on Fishing and Conservation of Aquatic Biological Resources.

The implementation of large-scale compensatory measures during the construction of Bagaevsky Hydroelectric Complex is a significant contribution to the preservation of biodiversity and the restoration of sturgeon populations. In total, it is planned to release 4.7 million juveniles of the Russian sturgeon into the Don River by the end of construction,”said Denis Akhayev, Deputy CEO of Rostransmodernizatsiya.

The construction was commissioned by Rostransmodernizatsiya.

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Glavrybvod is the largest state-owned vertically integrated structure for the preservation of aquatic biological resources. It is responsible for implementing measures to restore populations of various fish species and ecosystems of water bodies, including through artificial reproduction and amelioration of water bodies for fish culture.

The Don Sturgeon Plant of the Glavrybvod’s Azov-Don branch is engaged in the restoration and reproduction of valuable and endangered fish species such as beluga, Russian sturgeon, starred sturgeon and sterlet. Every year the plant produces more than six million young fish from its own replacement and breeding stock.

The Bagaevsky Hydroelectric Complex is the most important infrastructure project not only for the Rostov region, but also for the whole country. It will increase the depth of the Don downstream of the Kochetovsky Hydroelectric Complex to four meters, thus improving the throughput capacity of the Volga-Don Canal and ensuring safe navigation. In addition, the water supply in the region will improve, the commercial fishing will develop, and the Tsimlyansk Reservoir will be revitalized. The facility is included in the list of activities of the State Program “Transport System Development (2010-2030)”.