Hidrológiai Közlöny, 2017 (97. évfolyam)
2017 / 3. szám - TRANSNATIONAL EFFORTS - Sandu, Cristina - Dumitrache, Alina - Radu, Emilia - Dobre, Doru - Tudorache, Mädälina - Mihăilescu, Simona: The importance of good ecological status for the successful revival of Danube sturgeon
Cristina Sandu et al: The Importance of Good Ecological Status for the Successful Revival of the Danube Sturgeon 21 • Pseudorasboraparva (Stone moroko) - native to Asia, the species spread across EU MS, being present in several Danube countries: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. • My ocas tor coypus (Coypu) - this large rodent from South America was brought to Europe for fur farming. It is present in Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia. • Ondatrazibethicus (Muskrat) — introduced from North America for fur farming, the species has spread across Europe, establishing populations in 19 EU MS. It is present in Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary and Romania. The recommended management measures most often include an EU ban on the trade of such species, a ban on keeping/releasing them, a strong control of the usual pathways for their introduction and spreading, as well as a rapid eradication of any newly emerging population, to prevent their further invasion in other EU member states. In countries where these species are already established, additional management measures should be taken to control their development {EC 2017). A close cooperation between authorities implementing Water Framework Directive and Nature Directives with transport and trade authorities is highly recommended in order to curb the expansion of invasive alien species in the Danube River Basin. CONCLUSIONS Good ecological status has a crucial role for the revival of the Danube sturgeon: their conservation status depends on good water quality, on the availability of food resources and on good hydromorphology. Their longdistance migratory behaviour between marine and freshwater habitats renders them particularly vulnerable to river continuity disruption, as this prevents access to key habitats and the completion of their life cycle. The achievement of good ecological status in the Danube River Basin will require an enhanced cooperation of water management authorities with relevant stakeholders and enforced implementation of water and nature directives, especially in the context of emergent pollutants, planned infrastructure projects, expansion of invasive alien species and climate change, in order to prevent further habitat alterations and consequent biodiversity loss. 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