The culture of
sturgeons in Russia: production of juveniles for stocking and meat for human
consumption
M. Chebanov, R. Billard-2001
Aquatic Living Resources, 14(6): 375-381
(from Current Contents)
Abstract:
Culture of sturgeons in Russia began in the second half of the 19th century. During the first part of the 20th century, a significant research effort was devoted to the control of reproduction and the rearing of larvae mostly for stock enhancement purpose in rivers. Large-scale construction of hatcheries began in the 1950s after the damming of rivers, and by the 1980s over 130 million 1-3-g juveniles per year were being produced from wild broodstock. Presently, the production is 100 million juveniles. Emphasis is now on optimising stocking results through consideration of fish-specific factors (e.g. behaviour, fitness, size, balance between species) as well as environmental variables (food availability, release sites, salinity, precipitation regime). Food fish production of sturgeon (market size is 1.5-2.0 kg is just beginning using captive broodstock and new growing technologies. In 2000, farm production was about 1 650 t, which was higher than sturgeon landing from wild fisheries (1500 t declared in 2000).
(MNHN,
Lab Ichtyol, 43 Rue Cuvier, F-75231 Paris, France, e-mail of R. Billard: billard@mnhn.fr)