Sturgeons have returned to Khortytsia for the first time in 70 years: the consequences of the destruction of the hydroelectric power station

According to glavcom.ua: Sturgeons are returning to Zaporizhzhia after 70 years of absence, weighing over 10 kg. This became possible after the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station, which opened the way for fish migration from the Black Sea all the way to Zaporizhzhia.

“The absence of the dam has made it possible for fish to migrate upstream. Fish from the Black Sea can now approach Zaporizhzhia without obstacles – about 200 kilometers of the restored riverbed,” emphasized Doctor of Biological Sciences Viktor Demchenko.

Demchenko also noted that before the construction of dams near Zaporizhzhia, there were traditional spawning grounds for sturgeon fish, which were later destroyed. Now the sturgeon fish are restoring their historical places thanks to the recovery of the natural environment after the explosion of the hydroelectric power station over two years ago.

As a result of the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station, sturgeons from the Black Sea can once again inhabit the river near Zaporizhzhia, restoring their historical habitats. This is evidence of successful restoration of the environment and the possibility for wildlife to return to their customary habitats after human interventions.