Since natural sturgeon populations have drastically declined, aquaculture of these valuable fish is important to meet the ever‐increasing demand for meat and caviar, thereby reducing the pressure on natural sturgeon resources. There are two directions in sturgeon aquaculture: controlled propagation for release and commercial farming. The controlled propagation supports the conservation of natural fish populations, while the commercial cultivation of sturgeons supplies the needs of the consumer market with the delicacy production of caviar (mainly). This review deals with the current status of the controlled propagation and stocking in the Volga‐Caspian basin and the commercial farming of sturgeons in Russia. The article also investigates the management of farmed broodstocks of sturgeons, which are used for obtaining seedlings and caviar. It is for sure that the active and continuous development of the two directions of sturgeon aquaculture will allow preserving these unique ancient fish on our planet until natural populations can be re‐established by self‐sustaining populations.
Aim. The aim of the study is to analyze the current state of artificial reproduction of the Caspian sturgeon and to identify the problems of reducing efficiency and ways to solve them.Discussion. The current critical state of the Caspian sturgeon, which accounts for up to 90% of the world's related resources, is of concern to the entire community, due to the threat of extinction of these relic individuals on the planet. This can be prevented by increasing the efficiency of reproduction. However, natural reproduction is practically reduced to zero, so the real and only possible solution is artificial reproduction. This analytical review presents five tasks, the successful solution of which will improve the current state of artificial reproduction in the Volga‐Caspian basin. The main task is the provision of fish breeding processes with producers, which, in the absence of fish of natural generation, are derived from brood stocks. Of particular concern is the threatened state of the Caspian beluga and stellate sturgeon. It is necessary to increase the release of their juveniles, for which financial stimulation of this activity is necessary. It is necessary to move more actively to the release of juveniles of an enlarged (7‐10 g) size and their export to feeding places in the waters of the Northern Caspian, which will contribute to an increase in fishing return.Conclusion. It is necessary to increase funding for research into the reproductive function of females and for artificial generation, as well as for the maintenance of production herds – a golden fund for restoring natural reserves. The attention of all the Caspian states should be drawn to the intensification of activities for the artificial reproduction of these unique fish species in the Caspian basin.
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