News

Together with Dr Jörn Gessner from IGB and the Director of the Lower Oder Valley National Park, Dirk Treichel, Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke today released 600 sturgeons into the Oder River near Criewen. The new home of the young fish is a special habitat, as the Oder is the last major river in Germany where sturgeon and other animals can migrate unhindered over long distances. Since 2006, it has been a priority area for the reintroduction of the Baltic sturgeon.

IGB has received more than 200 young European sturgeons, considered extinct in Germany, from INRAE, the French partner institute. It's a Christmas present we're particularly pleased about.

Crustaceans such as shrimp are a popular food. Due to the high demand for crustaceans, the majority of those consumed no longer come from the wild, but are farmed on a large scale in aquaculture. However, there is potential for improvement in terms of sustainability and animal welfare. In an interview, Dr Sven Würtz explains why aquaculture practitioners should address this issue with urgency.

How does oxygen make fish larvae glow? How can hungry scavenger cells protect against diseases? And why does dirt in the water help fish grow better? Researchers utilize natural substances to breed sustainable and healthy food fish.

On 8 May 2023, around 2,000 juvenile fish will be stocked near Stützkow. The original plan was to release the fish in the autumn of 2022, but this was not possible due to the man-made environmental disaster on the river. Now, the partners involved are making a new attempt and sending a signal for better protection of our river habitats.