Hudson River Reserve Contributes to International Knowledge Exchange

The Takeaway: Hudson River Reserve staff shared expertise that helps support migratory fish habitat restoration in the countries of Georgia and Romania.

Visiting scientists and officials from the countries of Georgia and Romania learned hands-on sturgeon and eel monitoring techniques at the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve as part of an international knowledge exchange. The lessons learned inform river restoration efforts in the two countries, which boast some of Europe’s most biodiverse and endangered ecosystems and the last remaining habitats for several rare freshwater fish species. The researchers not only gained knowledge of the Hudson River ecosystem and ongoing monitoring work but also forged professional relationships with reserve staff that have led to follow-up proposals and collaborations.

The reserve was one stop on the delegation’s ten-day visit to the United States, during which six conservation practitioners and government officials from Georgia and Romania visited eight states and Washington, DC, to exchange knowledge on river ecosystem restoration and migratory fish management. International conservation organization Fauna & Flora organized the exchange as part of their efforts to build technical capacity in the two countries, made possible with funding from the nonprofit Trust for Mutual Understanding.

“It was such an enriching experience and we are really grateful to all the U.S. partners involved,” says Bianca Roberts, projects manager for the Caucasus Programme at Fauna & Flora. “We learnt so much thanks to their engagement.”

The researchers spent two days at the reserve learning about sturgeon and eel monitoring programs, practicing sampling techniques, and participating in a canoe trip on the Hudson River that demonstrated the power of education and art as tools for restoration.

Experts from the University of Delaware, Delaware State University, and the Hudson River Fisheries Unit of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation led the participants through collecting and tagging sturgeon. Many sturgeon species are critically endangered and are now so rare in Georgia that some of the visiting researchers had never seen one in the wild before.

Similarly, the delegation practiced sampling American eel with the guidance of Hudson River Reserve staff and learned how the reserve is supplementing their monitoring through a citizen science program.

The exchange trip and Hudson River visit helped increase participants’ knowledge of migratory fish and conservation strategies that they could explore in their own programs. Even after the delegation returned home, the experience sparked further knowledge sharing and collaboration. Following the exchange, Fauna & Flora shared lessons learned in the United States during Romania’s first international conference on restoring river connectivity for migratory fish. And, the Hudson River Reserve staff continue to stay in touch with the researchers, informing essential research and conservation outcomes—most recently organizing a call to discuss ideas for Georgia’s first eel monitoring program.

The lasting success of the international exchange shows the value of collaboration and is a testament to the reserve’s leadership in estuary research. (2025)

Partners: Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve, Fauna & Flora, Delaware State University, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Trust for Mutual Understanding