Conservation and Broodstock Management: Present State and Perspectives of Stellate Sturgeon Brood
Fish in the Romanian Part of the Danube
C. Ceapa, P. Williot, N. Bacalbasa-Dobrovici-2002
International Review of Hydrobiology, 87(5-6):
507-513
Abstract:
This paper is presenting the results of a four years
biometry study on the stellate sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus) brood
fish in the Danube River. We calculated the growth rate, the length-weight
relationships and the age composition for the two sexes of the brood fish
during the reproduction migration. Comparing with the age frequencies for
the 1965-1968 period we noticed an appreciable shift in the proportion of
the age classes toward the youngest ones and a rejuvenation of the
population (average age of 7.2 years for the males and 10.9 years for the
females). The average total length for the 1997-2000 period (mean TL =
119,73 cm) is much smaller compared to the 30 years earlier value (mean TL =
131.16 cm). The maximum frequency age class was the 7th years
class for the males and the 8th and 11th for the
females. These data are a classical expression of overfishing.
(“Dunarea de Jos” University of Galatüi, Fishing
and Aquaculture Department, 47 Domnească Str., RO-6200 Galati, Romania,
e-mail: cceapa@hotmail.com)