Experience, Principles and Parameters in the Sturgeon Quality Assessment by Anomalies in Early Ontogenesis (A Review)

Abstract

Purpose: Review the experience, principles and parameters of the sturgeon assessment quality by anomalies in early ontogeny. Results: Maintaining the number of sturgeon fish in the transboundary Caspian Sea is provided by five states (Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan) at 16 Sturgeon hatcheries, where their artificial reproduction is carried out. FAO recognizes Russia’s leadership in creating the basic technology for the sturgeon artificial reproduction, but the other four Caspian states also make a significant contribution to its modern optimizations. There is almost a century of tradition behind the technological development of artificial reproduction in sturgeons. During the artificial reproduction of sturgeons, anomalies in the structure and functions may occur, such as deformities, defects in organs and tissues, edema, hematomas, etc. The sturgeon anomalies classification is based on structural and functional principles. Identification of anomalies is carried out on the basis of a previously created classification, divided into nine large classes. Identification of sturgeon anomalies during the period of their artificial reproduction makes it possible to clarify the real value of replenishment of their stock. Methods: Analysis of professional scientific literature and practical guides. Conclusions: The presence and number of Sturgeon anomalies make it possible to determine their death percentage to calculate the real number of replenishment of the Caspian Sturgeon stock.

Re-Establishing Naturally Reproducing Sturgeon Populations in the Caspian Basin: A Wicked Problem in the Ural River

“…The Ural-Atyrau Sturgeon Fish Hatchery has already begun domesticating wild spawners to establish lines of broodstock to sustain future stocking programs [138], but this process carries several long-term risks [139,140]. Reliance on a narrow gene pool from captive broodstock increases the likelihood of loss of fitness and introduction of undesirable characteristics into the population [139,141]. Moreover, the routes and timing of natural sturgeon migrations in the Caspian basin are not yet fully understood; new methods to monitor fish movements are available, but the scarcity of residual Caspian sturgeon populations has made it difficult to exploit them to increase our understanding of sturgeon biology and behavior [30,106,142,143].…”

Spatial and temporal trends in the relative abundance of Caspian sturgeon during 2006–2022

“…The benefits of artificial fish stock enhancements include protecting fish stocks, increasing catch rates, and conserving and renewing depleted, threatened, and endangered fish populations (Camp et al., 2013; Lorenzen et al., 2012). Artificial reproduction and stock enhancement can be effective in maintaining sturgeon stocks in their natural habitat (Abdolhay & Baradaran Tahori, 2006; Assylbekova et al., 2022).…”