The International Symposium on the species from the genera Hucho and Parahucho was held on 19–22 September in the village of Łopuszna near Nowy Targ. This group of fish includes only 5 species of the biggest and most threatened salmonid fish (Salmonidae: Huchoninae) with the current IUCN status as follows: taimen Hucho taimen – vulnerable; Hucho bleekeri – critically endangered; Hucho ishikawae – data deficient; huchen Hucho hucho – endangered; Sakhalin taimen Parahucho perryi (on the Red List as H. perryi) – critically endangered (Rand 2013). The symposium dealt with problems related to the population state, biology, conservation, ecology, genetics and breeding of the three most widespread huchen (Danube salmon) species. Papers were presented by ichthyologists from 19 countries, including: Japan, China, Far Eastern Russia, Mongolia and USA. Altogether, the Symposium was attended by 80 persons, personally invited by organizers, including 55 foreign guests. Europe was represented by the largest number of researchers, huchen breeders and enthusiasts from countries where the species occurs, i.e. Austria, Germany/Bavaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Hungary and of course Poland. During the Symposium, 34 papers were delivered and 15 posters were presented with rather diverse topics, such as: assessing the risk of individual populations, their biological characteristics, methods of protection, effectiveness of stocking, breeding and husbandry issues, health care, and reports describing people and their actions “in the service of the queen” (as it was emotionally expressed). At the symposium, a resolution together motions were drawn up and addressed to institutions responsible for fishery and angling, nature conservation institutions and governments of territories where huchen species from the genera Hucho and Parahucho still occur. Conclusions of the 2nd International Hucho Symposium: 1. Participants of the 2nd International Hucho Symposium emphasised the endangered status of all species from the genera Hucho and Parahucho within their natural distribution ranges, with a varying degree of threat. 2. In the case of the European species (Hucho hucho), the strategy requires, besides ex situ conservation, efforts towards renaturisation of “civilised” rivers and streams. 3. At present, conservation of the Far Eastern species (Hucho taimen, Parahucho perryi) can be conducted in situ, but there is an urgent need for more rational exploitation of resources in terms of fishery and angling. 4. In the case of introduction or restitution of the species from the genera Hucho and Parahucho, genetic makeup of their individual (isolated) subpopulations should be taken into account. 5. For this purpose, all Hucho hucho breeding centres should be inventoried in a way that will allow to determine the genotype of the spawning stocks and stocking material intended for particular regions of the Danube system. Similar principles should be adopted in the case of the remaining species. 6. Detailed genetic studies and studies of the species biology (i.a. microhabitats of all life cycle stages using telemetric methods), as well as devising adequate breeding methods are recommended for all the species. 7. There is still lack of data on the current situation and many aspects of biology of two endemic species – the Sichuan taimen (H. bleekeri) and the Korean taimen (H. ishikawae) whose distribution is limited to the Sichuan province and the border river Yalu between North Korea and China. 8. The Symposium indicated the need to extend the international cooperation within both scientific studies and practical measures to protect all members of the genera Hucho and Parahucho. 9. The Symposium participants congratulate the Polish fishery and angling organisations on their long-lasting and successful contribution towards preserving Hucho hucho on the list of the Polish ichthyofauna. 10. The participants of the 2nd International Hucho Symposium addressed a motion to governments of countries on whose territories the species of Hucho and Parahucho occur, to bear the responsibility for the existence and future of these extraordinary fish
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