Conservation and Broodstock
Management: Status of Caught Wild Spawners and Propagation of the Endangered
Sturgeon Acipenser sturio in France: a Synthesis
P. Williot, T. Rouault, R. Brun, M. Pelard, D.
Mercier-2002
International Review of Hydrobiology, 87(5-6):
515-524
Abstract:
Over the last twenty-years attempts to propagate wild
caught spawners of the endangered Atlantic sturgeon, Acipenser sturio,
have been carried out. Incidental catches, concentrated in May and June,
decreased from 1988 onwards. Females were larger than males. The allometric
relationship between the weight (W) and the length (TL) is sex dependent.
Carp pituitary homogenate was the most commonly used hormonal treatment for
artificial reproduction. A two-injection process at an interval of 12-48 h
proved to be efficient in over-mature females and resulted in several days
holding time in males, respectively. There are qualitative signs of a
degradation of the status of the French population. Only four artificial
spawnings were performed, in 1981 (1), 1985 (2) and 1995 (1). New needed
fields of investigation which often have already started are: setting up of
a confined broodstock, cryopreservation of sperm, assessment of good quality
sperm, efficiency of pools of sperms, biotest for in vitro ovulation,
molecular genetics, non invasive methods, and potential causes of stress
(environmental damages and handling as well).
(Cemagref,
UR Ressources Aquatiques Continentales, 50 Avenue de Verdun, Cestas cedex,
33612, France, e-mail: patrick.williot@cemagref.fr)