From June 6 to 11, 2026, researchers from the Institute of Hydrobiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine conducted field research in the lower reaches of the Danube and the adjacent Black Sea waters as part of the international SWIM project, which is being implemented with the support of the Horizon Europe program.

During the expedition, a series of studies was carried out to assess the condition of aquatic ecosystems and the habitats of migratory fish. The researchers monitored water quality, collected water and bottom sediment samples to assess toxicity and contaminant levels, conducted a hydromorphological survey of the shorelines and coastal habitats, and investigated the spread of invasive species.

Particular attention was paid to monitoring migratory fish along the Kiliya branch of the Danube and in the estuary of the Black Sea. The data collected will help identify key habitats and migration routes of fish, particularly sturgeon, which are currently among the most vulnerable species in the Danube region.

The SWIM project aims to conserve and restore the natural habitats and spawning grounds of migratory fish, as well as to develop joint approaches to water resource management in the Danube Basin and the northwestern part of the Black Sea.