China and Russia release 5 million juvenile sturgeon to revive Amur River populations

Tongjiang, China: China and Russia have released 5 million juvenile fish into the Amur River — known as the Heilongjiang in China — in a joint effort to bring back giant sturgeon once thought gone from the river.

Environmental authorities from both countries gathered in Tongjiang city this month for the mass-release ceremony. The release included 200 juvenile Amur sturgeon and 485,000 juvenile kaluga, another sturgeon species native to the river. Another 5.2 million fry of commercially valuable species like silver carp and grass carp were also released, according to Global Times.

Many of the sturgeon received fluorescent marker injections so scientists can track their movement, distribution, and reproduction over their lifespan.

The Amur sturgeon was once famous for its size, but chronic overfishing wiped out populations. By 2006, the IUCN listed it as “Critically Endangered.” Commercial harvesting was banned in China in 2007, and both countries started captive breeding programs. Previous releases hadn’t shown clear results. But officials now report progress.

Chen Huaifa, director of the Heilongjiang Aquatic Animal Resources Conservation Center, told Global Times that monitored kaluga and Amur sturgeon are now living to 5 years and older — something not seen 8 years ago. In 2025, the center recorded a sturgeon living to 8 years, the age males first spawn.“I have been fishing for decades.

Now we have fish release activities every year, and seeing bags of fry being released into the river makes me truly happy,” said fisherman Li Changyou. “Stock enhancement is not only about protecting resources, but also about preserving a way of livelihood for fishermen like us.”Conservationists say the releases aim to rebuild fish stocks and secure the livelihoods of river communities for future generations.