Jörn Gessner

Jörn Gessner is a Research Fellow and Research Group Leader at the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) in Berlin. He leads the Fish Biology, Fisheries, and Aquaculture group (Dept. 4), focusing on sturgeon conservation, habitat restoration, and aquaculture. His work addresses the reintroduction of European and Baltic sturgeon populations in rivers like the Elbe and Oder. He collaborates internationally with organizations such as HELCOM, IUCN, and ICES to develop conservation strategies and guidelines.

Key projects include STURGEoNOMICS (genomic approaches for sturgeon conservation), the Wanderfisch project (public awareness), and habitat monitoring frameworks. His research emphasizes functional genomics, bycatch mitigation, and environmental adaptation in early life stages. Gessner is affiliated with both Dept. 4 (Fish Biology) and Dept. 5 (Ecophysiology and Aquaculture at IGB).

Publications span sturgeon genetics, population monitoring, and ecosystem responses to human impacts. He co-authored technical guidelines for sturgeon conservation and contributed to international policy frameworks. His group’s work bridges ecological research with practical restoration, aiming to combat threats like habitat fragmentation and illegal trade.