After being absent from Irish waters for nearly 40 years, the sturgeon—reportedly extinct and often used for making caviar—has suddenly reappeared, sparking public attention on species extinction caused by overfishing.
Marine biologist Kevin Flannery was thrilled after receiving photos from fishermen: “To see this fossil species return to our waters is truly incredible; it was once thought to be extinct here.”
One of the Oldest Fish Species
The last recorded catch of sturgeon in Ireland was in 1987, when one was caught near Dublin. This fish, highly prized for its caviar, was driven to the brink of extinction in the region due to overfishing. As early as the 1970s, they had almost disappeared. As one of the oldest fish species in the world, human dependence on them caused their numbers to plummet rapidly, leading to the disappearance of this resource.
The Irish Wildlife Service stated that efforts are needed to reintroduce this endangered species to Ireland. Sturgeon is a precious animal, and restoring its habitat will also benefit many other species.
Currently, there are already plant-based caviar alternatives on the market, which are expected to ease conservation pressure on the sturgeon.