Underwater drone helps researchers spot endangered Chinese sturgeon in Yangtze River

Researchers used a CHASING X underwater drone and ROV to document endangered Chinese sturgeon in the upper Yangtze River, where strong currents and poor visibility make the species hard to study. The April mission in Sichuan Province showed how underwater robotics can support conservation of one of the world’s oldest freshwater fish.

Why it matters: - The Chinese sturgeon is one of the world’s most endangered freshwater fish. - The species has survived for more than 100 million years, but now faces pressure from the modern world rather than natural change. - Every confirmed sighting can help scientists understand survival, movement patterns and habitat conditions needed for recovery. - The mission also highlights how underwater robotics can expand conservation work in dangerous or hard-to-see river environments.

What happened: - Researchers conducted a four-day conservation mission in April at the Xianglutan spawning grounds in Sichuan Province in the upper Yangtze River. - The team used a CHASING X underwater drone and a professional remotely operated underwater vehicle, or ROV, to survey habitat conditions for Chinese sturgeon. - The mission documented three released Chinese sturgeon individuals. - The survey captured underwater imagery of the species in one of the Yangtze River’s toughest habitats.

The details: - The Xianglutan spawning grounds had average water depths of 11 meters, with some channels deeper than 20 meters. - Heavy rainfall upstream pushed river speeds to as much as 2.5 meters per second. - Visibility in some areas fell below half a meter. - Those conditions made traditional survey methods difficult and sometimes unsafe. - The CHASING X navigated deep channels, investigated underwater terrain and supported systematic ecological surveys. - BP750 imaging sonar helped researchers identify targets as visibility worsened. - Combined sonar and optical surveys eventually revealed multiple Chinese sturgeon targets within the spawning grounds. - By the end of the mission, researchers had successfully documented three released sturgeon individuals. - CHASING said its underwater ROV solutions are deployed in more than 100 countries and regions for commercial, industrial and scientific applications. - The company’s listed uses include offshore inspection, underwater infrastructure inspection, emergency search and recovery, port, hull and dock maintenance, aquaculture and fisheries, and underwater 3D photography and exploration. - CHASING said its systems combine advanced imaging, intelligent mobility and modular payload integration. - More information is available in the company’s announcement.

Between the lines: - The mission shows how conservation science is shifting toward remote tools that reduce risk to divers and disturbance to wildlife. - Freshwater ecosystems face mounting pressure from habitat degradation, pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss. - In rivers like the Yangtze, low visibility and strong currents can leave scientists with few options beyond robotics. - The successful documentation of released sturgeon suggests underwater drones may improve monitoring in sensitive breeding areas.

What’s next: - Researchers will likely use the new observations to refine habitat assessments and conservation planning for Chinese sturgeon recovery. - The mission suggests future surveys may rely more heavily on underwater robotics when river conditions block traditional fieldwork. - Continued monitoring will be important to track whether sturgeon remain present in the spawning grounds and how they use the habitat.

The bottom line: - In a river that hides more than it reveals, underwater robotics gave conservationists a rare view of an ancient species that still has a chance to endure.