Range Testing
Researchers tested the acoustic system in the Sakarya River and identified locations suitable for reliable receiver deployment.
14–15 May 2026
Sakarya River, Türkiye
Acoustic Telemetry
Acoustic Receiver Deployment and Sturgeon Tagging in the Sakarya River
SturNet researchers completed range testing, deployed acoustic receivers, and tagged ten sturgeons to strengthen long-term monitoring and conservation research in the Sakarya River.
Fieldwork Update
Within the scope of the SturNet Project, coordinated by Elif Damla Arısan, a range test was carried out in the Sakarya River on 14 May 2026 before the installation of acoustic receivers for monitoring sturgeons through acoustic telemetry.
The fieldwork was conducted by Aytaç Özgül, Altan Lök, Evrim Kurtay, doctoral student Zeynep Demirel, and staff members from the Bolu Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry.
2
Fieldwork days
10
Sturgeons tagged
12
Fieldwork photos
1
River monitoring network
Following the range tests, suitable deployment locations were identified and the acoustic receivers were installed in the river with the support of a fishing boat. The receivers were placed on mooring blocks constructed by Prof. Dr. Mehmet Salim Öncel from the Department of Environmental Engineering.
On 15 May 2026, the tagging procedure for ten sturgeons was successfully completed with the support of the Bolu Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry. Following recovery, the fish were prepared for release into the Sakarya River.
Deployment and Tagging Milestones
The operation connected equipment testing, field deployment, and fish tagging into one coordinated acoustic-telemetry monitoring workflow.
Receiver Deployment
Acoustic receivers were placed on purpose-built mooring blocks and installed with the assistance of a local fishing boat.
Sturgeon Tagging
Ten sturgeons were tagged for acoustic telemetry monitoring and prepared for release following their recovery period.
Fieldwork Photo Gallery
All twelve photographs from the receiver deployment, equipment preparation, sturgeon handling, tagging, and recovery activities.
Science and Local Cooperation
The interest shown by local fishermen and members of the surrounding community added an important public-engagement dimension to the fieldwork. Their support, together with the contribution of the fishing crew and public authorities, helped the SturNet team advance a practical monitoring system for sturgeon conservation in the Sakarya River.
Tracking Sturgeons for Better Conservation
Acoustic telemetry can provide valuable evidence on sturgeon movement, habitat use, and survival, supporting science-based protection and management of endangered populations in the Black Sea Basin.
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