17 June 2026 Thessaloniki, Greece National Awareness Raising Event

National Awareness Raising Event – Greece

Building the International Sturgeon Network for Ecosystem Sustainability at the School of Veterinary Medicine of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

Read the Event Update View the Programme Open Agenda (PDF)

Bringing Sturgeon Conservation to a Wider Audience

The Greek national event connected researchers, academics, students, and interested stakeholders with the SturNet project's objectives, scientific work, and regional cooperation.

As part of the project's dissemination activities, national awareness-raising events are being organised in each participating country. These events give stakeholders and target groups the opportunity to learn more about the project's objectives, the digital mapping tool, the threats posed by overfishing, and the importance of protecting endangered sturgeon species and the Black Sea Basin ecosystem.

The Greek event took place on 17 June 2026 in the Ach. Panetsos Hall, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. It brought together researchers, academics, students, and other interested stakeholders.

8 Expert presentations
1 National awareness event
4+ Stakeholder groups represented
BSB00172 SturNet project

The presentations covered sturgeon conservation, biology, breeding and reproduction, biodiversity protection, environmental DNA monitoring, project results, and the wider priorities of the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme. Participants also exchanged knowledge and discussed the importance of transnational cooperation for protecting the Black Sea ecosystem.

The event successfully contributed to raising awareness about sturgeon conservation and promoted the project's objectives among relevant target groups.

Event Programme

The programme combined project updates, scientific presentations, applied conservation experience, and discussion of related regional initiatives.

11:00–11:30
Registration and welcome remarks
11:30–11:40
SturNet: Objectives and Activities Alexandros Theodoridis, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
11:40–11:50
Interreg Black Sea Basin Programmes Alexandra Thomaidou, OECON Group
11:50–12:05
Sturgeons: Biology, Population Status and Threats Ioannis A. Giantsis, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
12:05–12:20
eDNA in the Monitoring of Aquatic Ecosystems Maria V. Alvanou, OECON Group
12:20–12:35
eDNA Analysis Results: Sturgeon Detection, Competing Species and Harmful Microorganisms Dimitrios K. Papadopoulos, OECON Group
12:35–12:50
A Journey into the World of “Living Fossils” and the Role of Aquaculture in Conservation Dr Kosmas Sofronidis
12:50–13:05
Sturgeon Aquaculture and Black Caviar Production in Greece Xenia Spyridonidou, Beluga Farm Greece
13:05–13:20
DIVERSIFY4FUTURE Project: Objectives and Activities Dimitrios Karagiannis, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
13:20–14:30
Light lunch and networking

Strengthening Awareness and Regional Cooperation

By connecting science, conservation practice, education, and stakeholder dialogue, the event strengthened understanding of the threats facing sturgeons and highlighted the role of coordinated monitoring and international cooperation in protecting the Black Sea Basin.

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